The bridge leading to Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Park in Disneyland Paris is set to reopen after nearly six months of renovation. The work rebuilt its supporting structure and added new decorative details.
A compass rose made from natural stone and brass inlays now sits at the bridge’s centre. Its colours echo the three fairies who watch over Aurora.
The reopening coincides with the castle’s 35th anniversary. Sleeping Beauty Castle was officially unveiled on 12 October 1991 during “Rendez-Vous au Château,” attended by press, Cast Members and their families.
Since then, regular maintenance and renovations have preserved the landmark’s appearance while allowing some details to evolve.
A compass rose for Aurora’s fairies
Merryweather’s blue branches and Flora’s red branches point in opposite directions. They recall the fairies’ quarrel over Aurora’s dress colour as she dances with Prince Philip.
Between those branches, a green arc represents Fauna’s role as mediator. At the centre, a brass medallion depicts Aurora’s crown surrounded by thorns.
A brass fleur-de-lis points north. It nods to the four brass letters that marked the cardinal directions when Disneyland Park opened. Those letters were removed during a refurbishment in 2010.
The brass elements have three layers, with different finishes handcrafted by a specialist artisan. That work creates subtle depth and shine within the design.
How the bridge was rebuilt
The renovation completely rebuilt the arches, corbels and decorative spandrels, along with the structure supporting the decorative elements. Workers also replaced the balustrade’s wooden posts.
The drawbridge has a new tropical-timber deck.
Granite paving replaces the old stamped concrete on the bridge deck. Disney says the material is easier to maintain and improves guest comfort.
Fitting the paving around the bridge’s arched shape required a precise layout, much like a jigsaw puzzle. The finished surface contains 2,735 individual pieces.
The natural-stone balusters were completely rebuilt using Champagny limestone. A waterproofing treatment protects them from spray from the fountains below.
For the bridge’s elevations and arch undersides, workers sprayed synthetic stone paste onto a metal framework. They then sculpted the relief patterns by hand.
Each piece was hand-painted using five shades, with light and dark tones recreating the castle stones’ natural variations.
New landscaping completes the work.
Patina and painting work also formed part of the transformation. Stefano Servi, Stage Architect at Walt Disney Imagineering Paris, says the project brought together numerous specialist trades.
Servi said experts in historic-monument restoration were called upon to care for Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Source: Disneyland Paris
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