December 16, 2025, 10:04 am | Read time: 4 minutes

For many, Christmas without the film “Three Wishes for Cinderella” is hard to imagine. Since 1973, it has enchanted both children and adults. It is based on the fairy tale “Cinderella” by the Brothers Grimm and the story “About Cinderella” by Czech writer Božena Němcová. The popular fairy tale adaptation is not only broadcast in Germany during the Christmas season. It is also broadcast in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Norway, Austria, and Switzerland. The film was a co-production of the former Czechoslovakia (ČSSR) and East Germany, directed by Czech director Václav Vorlíček. Those who have always wanted to visit the filming locations of “Three Wishes for Cinderella” are in luck, as some of them are located in Germany.

Filming Locations in Germany

Moritzburg Castle

Located near Dresden on an artificial island, Moritzburg Castle served as a hunting lodge for Duke Moritz, after whom the castle is named, in the 16th century. In the 18th century, the hunting lodge was remodeled in the Baroque style by Augustus the Strong. The castle has four towers and 200 rooms, including the dining and billiard rooms. The exterior of the castle was used as a filming location for the fairy tale film “Three Wishes for Cinderella.” Although no scenes were filmed inside the castle, there has been an exhibition about the fairy tale film in the castle’s rooms every winter since 2009.

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In the exhibition, you can learn more about the background of the fairy tale film. You can also view some of the original costumes. These are staged to represent various moments from the film. This winter, the exhibition at Moritzburg Castle can be visited until March 1. The shoe that Cinderella loses while running away has also been immortalized on the castle’s staircase.

Studio Babelsberg

In the world’s oldest large-scale film studio, several key scenes of “Three Wishes for Cinderella” were filmed. Scenes such as the meeting of Cinderella and the prince in the ballroom were shot here. During the East German era, Deutsche Film AG, or DEFA, was based in these studios. Many fairy tale films were produced here in collaboration with the Barrandov film studios. Originally, the film was supposed to be set in the summer. However, due to DEFA’s high workload, filming was postponed to the winter months. The lead role of Cinderella was played by Czech actress Libuše Šafránková, and the prince was played by Czech actor Pavel Trávníček. Libuše Šafránková had her breakthrough as an actress with “Three Wishes for Cinderella” and was even awarded an Oscar for the film “Kolya” in 1997. The actress passed away in June 2021, but her enchanting portrayal of Cinderella will continue to warm people’s hearts for many years to come.

Filming Locations in the Czech Republic

The Švihov Castle served as the filming location for the estate where Cinderella lives with her father, wicked stepmother, and sister. Located in the Czech Republic, it was built between 1480 and 1489. Today, the site houses a museum. Some modifications were made to the castle for the filming of “Three Wishes for Cinderella.” The small town of Klatovy, just 10 kilometers from the castle, was also used as a filming location. Parts of the film were shot at the Barrandov film studios in Prague, one of the oldest and largest film studios in Europe. In the 1970s and 1980s, many fairy tale films were produced here in collaboration with Deutsche Film AG, based in East Germany.

The Bohemian Forest also served as a filming location for the fairy tale film. For instance, the scene where the prince shoots the bird’s nest, which lands in the servant’s lap, was filmed in the Bohemian Forest.