Things to see and do Seoul 서울

A private gallery-gallery with temporary exhibitions and a permanent collection of outdoor statues in a beautiful site.

There is an audiovisual room, an Internet café, information and exhibitions on Seoul… The brochure «Seoul Survival» is available for those who wish to settle in the capital. The town hall also publishes a good brochure, Traditional Ceremonies and Festivals on major festivals in the capital.

It also proposes a volunteer guide service: Goodwill Guide - Tel (+82 2 797 8212 - free service to accompany you in the discovery of the city. It is better to book his guide 2 or 3 weeks in advance on the website. In case of emergency, the central office of the KNTO must be contacted.

For Zen meditation, you can go from 4 a. m. to 19 p. m. in this temple, which organizes every Sunday at 13 p. m. lectures on Dharma initiation and meditation sessions in English. Possibility of retirement in the winter and summer over long periods or for short sessions (3-4 days). Look in the press in English. It is located in Seoul, but away from the hustle and bustle of the centre, with beautiful walks in the Bukhansan mountain.

This temple is located behind the Hyundai gallery, near the Artsonje gallery. There are Buddhist services in English on Sunday at 18 p. m. There is also a small library. The centre organizes all kinds of activities for foreigners, such as meditation and singing sessions, making paper lanterns for the Buddha's birthday, etc. They currently build on the island of Ganghwado a Retreat for foreigners. A weekly meeting is held on Thursday at 19 a. m.

One of the hills where you can walk and take the air if you stay south of the river. There is nothing special to see, if it is some pheasants and other "natural monuments" in Seoul. At M ° Bangbae lies Cheonggwonsa, the tomb and the altar dedicated to Prince Hyoryeong (1396-1486), the second beloved son of Taejong and brother Frère king of King Sejong. Although he never reigned, he is known for his deep devotion to Buddhism. He will oversee the work of the Won-gaksa temple (now Tapgol or Pagoda Park).

This sanctuary is dedicated to the general of Goryeo Gang Gam-chan (948-1031), who spent his life defending his country against the invaders. A 3-storey pagoda was built on the site of its birth at the same time as an altar. The name comes from a legend that a star fell from heaven on the day of birth. The pagoda was moved and the shrine restored in 1973. There is not much to see but it is a nice district in Seoul near the mountains.

This small private museum on the fifth floor of a building houses a rich collection of traditional Korean embroidery and other feminine objects. As explained by his founder, Santi Dong-hwa, who spent 30 years of his life bringing together the 3 000 pieces of his collection, embroidery was one of the few ways of Joseon's masked women to express their artistic feelings and talents. More than handicrafts, these small works of art reveal a universe of colours, shapes and finesse. Most of the works date from Joseon, like a magnificent Buddhist screen named National treasure. The collection includes many pojagi, these fabrics used to wrap everything you were carrying, but which could serve as tissue, cushions, bags, etc., as a Korean scientist said, Korean culture could be described as a "pojagi culture" because this little piece of tissue, which does not take place but has many uses, reveals the spirit of the tissu. traditional Korea. Mr Hu, for lack of space, had to give up 600 pieces of his collection, which will be exhibited in a special pavilion of the new National Museum.

This beautiful mountain walk in Seoul is part of Seoul National University. Get off at M ° Seoul University # 228 on the green line 2 and take the small bus that deposits you to the campus gate. Take the path that is on the right before the portal. It is possible to visit university museums before climbing.

Seoul National University is the best in the country in most areas. Opened after the war, it was transferred in 1975 to the foot of Mount Gwanaksan. It has two small museums that are worth a visit if you are going to hike on the mountain.

The University Museum, which is quite small, offers some interesting classical paintings, celadons and furniture.

The exhibition rooms of the Kyujanggak Archives are by far the most interesting. The modern building with a Korean roof houses the collections of the Royal Library once housed in a pavilion of the Changdeokgung Palace (Gyujangak, still visible). Founded in 1776 by King Jeongjo, these collections included the Royal Archives, a copy of each book printed in Korea and a collection of Chinese works reported by Korean ambassadors sent to Beijing.

Three other national archives had been created, including one on the island of Gangwhado, which provided the Korean holdings of the National Library in Paris, after the French took some books with them during the invasion of the island. More than 170,000 books, some of them very old, are kept here and are accessible to researchers. Two rooms display interesting works, such as music manuals, illustrated texts describing the complicated protocol of the Yi court, amazing maps of Korea and the world known at the time, a book on shamanism, the first book in Hangeul...

Located in the middle of the modern district of Gangnam, these 2 tombs represent a pleasant haven of greenery. The statues in front of the tumuli may be quite imposing, but the detour is only necessary if you have never visited other royal tombs. Here lie Seongjong, the ninth king of Joseon (1469-1494) and his second wife, Queen Yun (the king had no less than 10 concubines and 27 children). Near them, their son Jungjong, the eleventh king of the dynasty (1506-1544).