The Castle of Childhood – Russia’s Fairy Tale Kindergarten

For 150 lucky preschoolers in Moscow, Russia, every day is a fairy tale. Instead of the usual kindergarten, they go to the Castle of Childhood, a real-life fantasy castle where they can play and live out their dreams of being princes and princesses.

The Castle of Childhood is often called the coolest-looking kindergarten in the world, and for good reason. It’s an amazing complex consisting of a large, colorful medieval castle and numerous play areas, including the usual swings and slides, as well as several playhouses, a soccer field, running track and flower gardens. The castle itself houses all kinds of wondrous areas designed to keep children busy and entertained at all times.

 

Located in Lenin State Farm, the Castle of Childhood was inaugurated in February of 2013. Pavel Grudinin, the director of the farm, came up with the idea for this amazing complex after visiting Germany’s beautiful Neuschwanstein Castle, which also served as inspiration for Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle. He was apparently so impressed by the architectural wonder that he wanted to recreate some of its magic for children in Russia.

The Castle of Childhood is a private kindergarten, and parents who want to send their children here would normally have to pay a monthly fee of 28,000 rubles ($463). However, the Russian Government subsidizes around 100 of the 150 available spots, so parents only have to pay $30 a month per child.

Interestingly, Russia also has a fairy tale school, called Ordinary Miracle. I guess it makes sense, since preschoolers at Castle of Childhood would probably be disappointed to go to an ordinary school.

Sources: RG.ru, Vidnoe24, Factroom