For nearly six months, the bridge in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Paris has been behind scrims as crews worked on refurbishing it. This came as the castle celebrated being a beacon of magic since officially unveiled to the public on October 12, 1991. This was during an event to officially reveal the castle to the public during what was called the ‘Rendez-Vous au Château,’ which was attended by press, Cast Members, and their families.

Through the years, Sleeping Beauty Castle has undergone regular maintenance, renovation, and enhancement work. This has preserved this beautiful building and also allowed certain details to evolve through the years.

Disneyland Paris, as part of the celebration of its 35th anniversary, has added new details to this magical Disneyland Paris landmark.

The work that has been done over the last six months hasn’t been just a simple refurbishment. This renovation has allowed for a thorough renovation of the bridge that is visited by thousands every day. The structure that supports the decorative elements was completely rebuilt. So were the arches, corbels, and decorative spandrels. And if that wasn’t enough, the wooden posts of the balustrade were replaced, and the drawbridge now has a new deck that is made of tropical timber.

The deck for the bridge was also completely redesigned. Where once there was stamped concrete, there is now granite paving. This is easier to maintain and also more attractive. It also ensures guest comfort. The process of laying this paving required a meticulous layout. This is a lot like a 2,735-piece jigsaw puzzle that is fitted to follow the arched shape of the bridge. The natural stone balusters that are made from Champagny limestone were also completely rebuilt. On top of that, they were treated with a waterproofing agent to protect them from the spray that comes from the fountains below.

Great effort was taken to recreate the appearance of the stones covering the bridge’s elevations and also the undersides of its arches. This was done with synthetic stone in paste form that was sprayed into a metal framework. This was then sculpted by hand to create its relief patterns. Then, each piece was hand-painted, using five different shades and various light and dark tones. This recreates the natural variations found in the stones of Sleeping Beauty Castle.

There is also a brand-new compass rose. It is made with natural stone and brass inlays and is found in the centre of the bridge. It echoes the colors of the three fairies who watch over Aurora. Merryweather’s blue branches and Flora’s red ones both point in opposite directions. This evokes their famous quarrel over the color of Aurora’s dress that takes place as Aurora is dancing with Prince Philip.

Between them is a green arc that represents Fauna, the mediator, who also creates a transition between the two branches. The compass rose is completed by a central brass medallion that depicts Aurora’s crown. It is surrounded by thorns along with a brass fleur-de-lis that indicates north. This is a nod to the four brass letters that originally marked the four cardinal directions on the bridge when Disneyland Paris opened. They were removed during a previous refurbishment in 2010. These brass elements feature three different layers. They have different finishes that are handcrafted by a specialist artisan to create subtle effects of depth and shine.

Finally, the transformation is completed with patina, painting work, and new landscaping.

Stefano Servi, Stage Architect at Walt Disney Imagineering Paris, said: ‘This renovation was made possible thanks to the involvement of numerous trades and the wealth of their expertise. We called upon experts in the restoration of historic monuments to take care of Sleeping Beauty Castle, which is, in its own way, a landmark of Disneyland Paris. Our aim was to restore the bridge to its former glory, whilst preserving the details that give it its character, so that it may continue to form an integral part of the Castle for many years to come.’

What do you think of the new details revealed about this iconic bridge at Disneyland Paris? What detail do you like the most? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!