The Sleeping Beauty Castle bridge at Disneyland Paris is set to reopen after a refurbishment that has kept it behind construction walls since early May 2026. The old stamped concrete has been replaced with 2,735 pieces of granite paving, and a new compass rose made from natural stone and brass now sits in the middle of the bridge. The announcement came on 12th October 2026, exactly 35 years after the castle was first shown to the public.
Article Summary
- What's happening: The Sleeping Beauty Castle bridge at Disneyland Paris is set to reopen after a refurbishment that began in early May 2026.
- Reopening date: Disneyland Paris didn't include a specific date work will be completed.
- New paving: The old stamped concrete has been replaced by 2,735 pieces of granite laid to follow the arch of the bridge.
- Compass rose: A new stone and brass compass rose in the centre of the bridge uses the colours of Flora, Fauna and Merryweather, with Aurora's crown on a brass medallion.
- Anniversary: The castle was unveiled on 12th October 1991, making it 35 years old on the day of the announcement.
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Read on for the full breakdown including the story behind the compass rose colours and the nod to the bridge's original 1992 brass lettering.
When Does The Sleeping Beauty Castle Bridge Reopen?
Disneyland Paris announced on 12th October 2026 that the bridge is set to reopen, but the announcement didn't include a date. Construction walls went up around the bridge to Sleeping Beauty Castle in early May 2026, so if you've visited Disneyland Park since then, your castle photos will have had themed scrim and plywood in the foreground instead of the bridge.
The castle itself stayed in use. The walkthrough upstairs and La Tanière du Dragon, the cave beneath the castle where a sleeping dragon wakes up every so often, were kept open during the work through alternative entrances from Fantasyland and near Adventureland.
The work also changed the nighttime show. When we covered the changes to Disney Tales Of Magic in March, Disneyland Paris had said the show would be adapted from 4th May to the end of September 2026 while the bridge was worked on, with the fountain effects removed and new pyrotechnic sequences added in their place.
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What Has Changed On The Sleeping Beauty Castle Bridge?
The old stamped concrete deck has gone and granite paving has replaced it, which Disneyland Paris says is easier to maintain and more comfortable to walk on. Laying it was a jigsaw job, with 2,735 individual pieces fitted to follow the arch of the bridge.
Below the surface, the structure that holds up the decorative elements has been completely rebuilt. So have the arches and corbels (the stone brackets that stick out to carry the weight above them), along with the decorative spandrels between the arches. The wooden posts of the balustrade are new, and the drawbridge has a new deck made from tropical timber.
The balusters, the carved uprights running along the sides of the bridge, are made from Champagny limestone and have been completely rebuilt. They've been treated with a waterproofing agent too, since the fountains below spray them with water.
The stonework on the sides of the bridge and under its arches is synthetic. The team sprayed a stone paste onto a metal framework, sculpted the relief patterns by hand, then hand-painted every piece using five different shades with lighter and darker tones to copy the natural variation in the castle's stones. Patina and paintwork finished the job, along with new landscaping around the bridge.
What Does The Sleeping Beauty Castle Compass Rose Mean?
The new compass rose in the centre of the bridge is made from natural stone with brass inlays, and its colours come from the three good fairies who look after Aurora in Sleeping Beauty (1959). Merryweather's blue branches and Flora's red ones point in opposite directions, a nod to the scene where the pair argue over the colour of Aurora's dress while she dances with Prince Phillip. Fauna, the peacekeeper of the trio, gets a green arc between them.
In the middle sits a brass medallion showing Aurora's crown surrounded by thorns. A brass fleur-de-lis marks north, and that one has some history behind it. When Disneyland Park opened in 1992, four brass letters marked the four compass points on the bridge, but they were removed during a refurbishment in 2010. The brass elements are built in three layers, each finished by hand by a specialist artisan to give the metal some depth and shine. Specialists in the restoration of historic monuments were also brought in for the project.
"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."
- Stefano Servi, Stage Architect at Walt Disney Imagineering Paris, 12th October 2026
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There are two main ways to book a Disneyland Paris hotel and ticket package from the UK. Disney Holidays packages bundle your transport from the UK with the hotel and tickets, while DisneylandParis.com packages cover the hotel and tickets only, leaving you to sort the travel yourself.
Prices vary a lot by date, so the Disneyland Paris price calendar is the quickest way to spot the cheaper nights. Our Disneyland Paris offers guide also lists the current deals for UK guests.
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Sleeping Beauty Castle Bridge: Your Questions Answered
When does the Sleeping Beauty Castle bridge at Disneyland Paris reopen?
Disneyland Paris announced on 12th October 2026 that the bridge is set to reopen, but the announcement didn't include a specific date. The refurbishment began in early May 2026.
What has changed on the Sleeping Beauty Castle bridge?
The stamped concrete deck has been replaced with 2,735 pieces of granite paving, and the Champagny limestone balusters along the sides have been completely rebuilt. A new compass rose made from natural stone and brass inlays now sits in the centre of the bridge.
What does the compass rose on the Sleeping Beauty Castle bridge represent?
The colours represent Aurora's three fairies. Merryweather's blue branches and Flora's red ones point in opposite directions as a nod to their argument over the colour of Aurora's dress, with a green arc between them for Fauna. The brass medallion in the centre shows Aurora's crown surrounded by thorns.
Did Sleeping Beauty Castle stay open during the bridge refurbishment?
Yes - the castle walkthrough and La Tanière du Dragon were kept open during the work, with access through alternative entrances from Fantasyland and near Adventureland.
How old is Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Paris?
Sleeping Beauty Castle turned 35 on 12th October 2026. It was first unveiled to the public on 12th October 1991, six months before Disneyland Park opened on 12th April 1992.
