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does beauty and the beast take place in france

by Mitchel Hayes Published 3 years ago Updated 3 years ago

With names like Belle, Le Fou, Gaston and Lumière, it's no secret that the Beauty and the Beast takes place in France. If you look into it, it's not hard to see that the Eastern region of Alsace with its many small rural towns with timber houses has been a huge inspiration for Disney.Mar 9, 2020

Is Beauty and the Beast a true story?

It’s a tale as old as time – or, at least as old as the 1500s. But the real couple that inspired Beauty and the Beast lived a tragic life. The real life Beauty and the Beast were Catherine and Petrus Gonsalvus, and they were treated like freaks of nature by Europe’s kings and queens.

What is the original story of Beauty and the Beast?

The story follows a young beautiful girl who sacrifices herself to save her father from being devoured by an aristocratic beast. Slowly the girl begins to grow fond of the beast and eventually is able to see past his hideousness and agrees to marry him.

What is Belle's last name in Beauty and the Beast?

Trivia

  • Belle's name means "beautiful" in French (not "beauty" which is said "beauté" in French). ...
  • Belle's movements maintain an air of elegance. ...
  • Belle's eyes were originally going to be gray, but in the final cut, they were hazel. ...

More items...

Does Belle in Beauty and the Beast have a last name?

The short answer appears to be no, Belle does not know the Beast's real name . Throughout Beauty and the Beast, the Beast is referred to as a Prince, a Master, and a Beast, but he is never given a real name. In fact, on the film's official IMDB page, the character is listed simply as "Beast" - no other name included.

What country does Beauty and the Beast take place?

FranceBeauty and the Beast took place in mid-1700s France. As we all know, Belle and her father lived in a “provincial town” on the coast of France before the French Revolution.

What city does Beauty and the Beast take place?

The specific location of the village is never stated outside of it being French, although it may be in Gascony, due to the town hero's name being Gaston, which means "from Gascony." It may also be in or near the Loire Valley, as the production staff for the film used that location as an inspiration for the setting of ...

Does Beauty and the Beast take place after the French Revolution?

[Beauty and the Beast] the movie is set AFTER the French Revolution, not before, and Belle and Maurice are (or were) republican supporters of the revolution, which is why they are distrusted in their deeply royalist little village.

Where in France was Beauty and the Beast filmed?

Belle's fictional village of 'Villeneuve' was constructed on the exterior back lot, with photographic plates shot around south-west France to provide background extensions. The closest place in real life to 'Villeneuve' is the village of Conques in the Aveyron department, about 100 miles northeast of Toulouse.

Is Belle from France?

The fifth Disney Princess, Belle is often ranked among the franchise's best....Belle (Beauty and the Beast)BelleFamilyMaurice (father)SpouseBeastChildrenBen (Descendants)NationalityFrench9 more rows

What French town is Beauty and the Beast based on?

A fairytale brought me to France, to the little town of Riquewihr in the French region of Alsace. Yet, this is not just any fairytale that inspired a trip to France; it is Beauty and the Beast.

Is Beauty and the Beast before French Revolution?

The time period adds up to approximately 1740. This means that not only will Belle and the Beast have decades of years together before the French Revolution, they are both so physically isolated and so far down the list of royals, there's good chance they and their family will be spared from the Reign of Terror. Phew.

Is Beauty and the Beast based on the French Revolution?

The story finds Belle on the cusp of the French Revolution in 1789, just as she takes her place as Queen. If you're assuming that we're dealing with a “damsel in distress” story, think again. This sequel novel will dive into themes of loyalty, love, duty, and of course, political turmoil.

Why was the Eiffel Tower in Beauty and the Beast?

TL;DR. Belle and Prince were somehow connected with the team which designed and built the Eiffel Tower in late 19th century. In fictional world of Disney Gustave Eiffel or a key member of his team either knew their descendants or was one of them.

Where is the beasts castle located?

BEAUTY and the Beast fans can live out their Disney dream by visiting the castle which inspired both the 1991 cartoon and the 2017 live-action film. The Chateau de Chambord in the Loire Valley was used to design Beast's castle.

Where is the Beast's castle?

There must be somewhere in France I can go and experience a real-life fairy-tale? I discovered the closest thing at Château de Chambord. This is the real castle from Beauty and the Beast.

What does Beauty find in the Beast's palace?

She also finds live furniture and other live objects which act as servants, but never the Prince from her dreams. For a month, Beauty lives a life of luxury at the Beast's palace with no end to riches or amusements and an endless supply of exquisite finery to wear.

Why does Beauty go to the Beast?

To release her father from the threat, Beauty volunteers to go to the Beast willingly, and her father reluctantly allows her to go. Once she arrives at his palace, the Beast is excited to meet Beauty face to face, so he throws a welcome ceremony by treating her to an amazing cabaret.

What does the Beast send to the Beast?

The Beast sends him on his way atop a magical horse along with wealth, jewels and fine clothes for his sons and daughters, but stresses that Beauty must never know about his deal. The merchant, upon arriving home, tries to hide the secret from his children, but Beauty pries it from him on purpose.

How many children does Beaumont have?

Beaumont's version. Beaumont greatly pared down the cast of characters and pruned the tale to an almost archetypal simplicity. The story begins in much the same way, although now the merchant has only six children: three sons and three daughters of which Beauty is one.

What is the story of Zémire and Azor based on?

Zémire and Azor is based on the second version of the tale. Amour pour amour ( Love for love ), by Pierre-Claude Nivelle de La Chaussée, is a 1742 play based on de Villeneuve's version. According to researchers at universities in Durham and Lisbon, the story originated about 4,000 years ago.

Who played Vincent in Beauty and the Beast?

Beauty and the Beast (1987), a television series which centers around the relationship between Catherine (played by Linda Hamilton ), an attorney who lives in New York City, and Vincent (played by Ron Perlman ), a gentle but lion-faced "beast" who dwells in the tunnels beneath the city.

Who collected the fairy serpent?

North American missionary Adele M. Fielde collected a version from China titled The Fairy Serpent, in which the heroine's family is visited by wasps until she follows the beast, who is a serpent. One day, the well she usually fetches water from is dry, so she walks to a spring. When the heroine returns, she finds the snake dying and revives him plunging him in the water. This turns him into a human.

Where is Belle from Beauty and the Beast?

's Belle spent her days reading fairy tales set in lands far, far away, but what this tamer of the Beast didn’t realize was that the " Little Town " she called home was perhaps the most magical village of all. Inspired by the real villages of Riquewihr and Ribeauvillé, two neighboring towns in France's Alsace region, Belle's hometown is practically a real-life destination where fans of the classic, animated Beauty and the Beast can walk a mile in Belle’s dainty, size six ballet flats. And now, with Disney's live-action version in theaters, our wanderlust for quaint bookshops, reading hardbacks by a fountain, and touring ornate castles is at an all-time high.

Where is Belle's hometown?

Inspired by the real villages of Riquewihr and Ribeauvillé, two neighboring towns in France's Alsace region, Belle's hometown is practically a real-life destination where fans of the classic, animated Beauty and the Beast can walk a mile in Belle’s dainty, size six ballet flats.

What is Alsace known for?

The one glaring thing missing on this list—a must on any Alsace itinerary—is wine. The Alsace region is known for styles like Pinot gris, Riesling, Muscat, and Gewurztraminer, and restaurants throughout Riquewihr and Ribeauvillé serve up some of the region’s finest vintages.

How many eggs do you need to eat to visit Ribeauvillé?

Ribeauvillé’s castles were built around the 13th century and are accessible by foot, but you may need Gaston’s "five dozen eggs" diet because the hour-long uphill hike is a doozy. (Except please don’t follow this crazy diet —no one needs nearly 5000 calories worth of raw eggs.)

Where is the castle in Alsace?

Château d’Isenbourg. For the full fairytale experience, you can spend the day exploring the town, then end it by sleeping in a castle. The Château d’Isenbourg, just 30 minutes south of Riquewihr, is a five-star castle hotel in the Alsace region.

Is the Beast's Castle open?

The castle is open to visitors daily and offers special tours throughout the year. Of course, the actual inspiration for the Beast's castke is Château de Chambord, according to a Screen Rant interview with animator Glen Keane.

Is Alsace wine in Beauty and the Beast?

While wine wasn’t a central focus in Beauty and the Beast, one Disney fan site notes that Alsace wine was present during the failed wedding scene, which is a good enough reason for us to raise a glass and give a cheer to the beloved beauty and her beast! Disney Movies The '90s travel. FACEBOOK 0.

Where is Belle's hometown in Beauty and the Beast?

The town of Conques, in the Aveyron department of southern France, has classic narrow Medieval streets with cobbled roads. FANS of Beauty And The Beast will never be able to enjoy Belle’s library in the castle or dance with a candlestick, ...

Where is Belle's hometown in the movie?

The town of Conques, in the Aveyron department of southern France, has classic narrow Medieval streets with cobbled roads. When designing Belle’s hometown for the new Hollywood movie, the illustrators wanted to find something similar ...

What region is Disney's inspiration?

If you look into it, it's not hard to see that the Eastern region of Alsace with its many small rural towns with timber houses has been a huge inspiration for Disney. According to Belle, the village is boring to live in – but for those of us who dream of a relaxing holiday, it’s a picturesque region to escape to.

Where is Rapunzel's castle?

1. Tangled – Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy. It’s easy to see that Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy has been the inspiration to the castle of Rapunzel's parents in Tangled. The island and monastery are equally breathe taking in reality. It's almost a magic sight that meets you, when Mont Saint-Michel pops up in the horizon.

Why is the Aristocats famous?

It is also one of the world's most recognizable castles because of the architecture, which is the special French Renaissance style. 5. The Aristocats – the roofs and beautiful homes of Paris. If you are a romantic who has sighed over Paris' beautiful roofs and boulevards, then Aristocats is the perfect cartoon.

Where is the ratcatcher in the movie?

In the film you will also see the rooftops of Paris, the banks of the Seine, the bridge Pont d'Arcole and a slightly creepy shop, which actually exists: the ratcatcher in Rue des Halles, founded in 1872 by the family who still owns it today.

Where is Le Présage?

The brainchild of an engineer turned chef, the concept of Le Présage, which is playing the guinguette game this year on the heights of Château Gombert in Marseille, aims to be a gastronomic restaurant in a natural, edible forest by 2022.

Is Notre-Dame in the movie Paris?

Perhaps you are having trouble recognizing Paris, because the movie takes place in the Middle Ages, but you cannot miss the world-famous gothic cathedral. Disney has made an amazingly accurate reproduction of Notre Dame, which is home to a very special hunchback according to the story by Victor Hugo. In fact, Disney has been so fond of the beautiful cathedral that they have even made some of it come alive; the many gargoyles that you can see up close if you visit the towers of Notre Dame, one of which serves as the home of Quasimodo in the story.

1. Beynac-et-Cazenac, Dordogne

Dordogne’s quaint charm and cobbled streets may as well be Belle’s fictional hometown. Wander the streets, browse the local shops and even peep inside the chateau that sits atop the village like a true Disney princess would.

2. Mont St Michel, Normandy

Although this structure looks like a castle rising from the sea, Mont St Michel is actually not a castle at all, but a medieval abbey. Although one might image the Beast dwelling in the tower, many say this landmark actually inspired the castle in Disney’s Tangled.

3. Colmar, Alsace

This protected town near the German border is so well-preserved, it looks just like the pages of a storybook. Be sure not to miss the Schwendi Fountain, which looks just like the fountain where Belle reads to sheep!

4. Château de Chenonceau, Loire Valley

Built over the river Cher like a true Disney-esque castle, this chateau is one of the most photographed spots in Loire Valley.

5. La Cure, Beaujolais

This towering, stone structure overlooks the French countryside, putting guests into a 13th century fairy tale - exposed stone walls and all.

Where is the Alsace Region

The Alsace Wine route is located in the Grand-Est region, on the Eastern side of France, close to the borders of Germany.

What is the Alsace Region known for?

The Alsace Region is known for it’s brightly painted half-timbered houses, which has been established as the Alsatian style.

Beauty and the Beast Villages in the Alsace Region

Our first stop on our Alsace Beauty and the Beast road trip is Strasbourg, France. It is the capital of the Alsace, and one of the bigger cities in the region.

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Overview

Beauty and the Beast (French: La Belle et la Bête) is a fairy tale written by French novelist Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve and published in 1740 in La Jeune Américaine et les contes marins (The Young American and Marine Tales). Her lengthy version was abridged, rewritten, and published by French novelist Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont in 1756 in Magasin des enfants (…

Plot

A widower merchant lives in a mansion with his twelve children (six sons and six daughters). All his daughters are very beautiful, but the youngest daughter, was named “little beauty” for she was the most gorgeous among all of them. She continued to be named “Beauty” till she was a young adult. She was the most lovely, as well as kind, well-read, and pure of heart; while the elder sisters, in co…

Analysis

The tale is classified in the Aarne-Thompson-Uther Index as type ATU 425C, "Beauty and the Beast". It is related to the general type ATU 425, "The Search for the Lost Husband" and subtypes.
In a study about the myth of Cupid and Psyche, Danish folklorist Inger Margrethe Boberg argued that "Beauty and the Beast" was "an older form" of the animal husband narrative, and that subtypes 425A, "Animal as Bridegroom", and 425B, "The Disenchanted Husband: The Witch's Tasks", were …

Variants

The tale is one of the most popular in oral tradition.
Emmanuel Cosquin collected a version with a tragic ending from Lorraine titled The White Wolf (Le Loup blanc), in which the youngest daughter asks her father to bring her a singing rose when he returns. The man cannot find a singing rose for his youngest daughter, and he refuses to return home until he finds one. When he finally finds singing roses, they are in the castle of the titular w…

Broader themes

Harries identifies the two most popular strands of fairy tale in the 18th century as the fantastical romance for adults and the didactic tale for children. Beauty and the Beast is interesting as it bridges this gap, with Villeneuve's version being written as a salon tale for adults and Beaumont's being written as a didactic tale for children.

Commentary

Tatar (2017) compares the tale to the theme of "animal brides and grooms" found in folklore throughout the world, pointing out that the French tale was specifically intended for the preparation of young girls in 18th century France for arranged marriages. The urban opening is unusual in fairy tales, as is the social class of the characters, neither royal nor peasants; it may reflect the social cha…

Modern uses and adaptations

The tale has been notably adapted for screen, stage, prose, and television over many years.
• The Scarlet Flower (1858), a Russian fairy tale by Sergey Aksakov.
• Beauty and the Beast ... The Story Retold (1886), by Laura E. Richards.
• Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast (1978), by Robin McKinley.

See also

• Eros and Psyche
• East of the Sun and West of the Moon
• The King of the Snakes (Chinese folktale)
• Noble savage

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