Monuments to visit Gyeonggi-Do 경기도

This sumptuous fortress was built to house the capital within its walls and to offer refuge to the king in case of emergency. It was therefore built under Silla by King Munmu in 672, but its earthen walls were replaced and greatly enlarged from 1612 onwards by Gwanghaegun, in anticipation of a possible Manchu invasion. Thus, in 1624, King Injo gave the order to rebuild this fortress. The monk Byeogam became the commander of the Buddhist armies and helped in the construction with his troops of monks. It was completed in 1626, but work was continued later, from King Sukjong (1674-1720) to King Sunjo (1800-1834). Listed as a World Heritage Site since 2014, this site is very beautiful, especially in spring and autumn, as it is very wooded and fits the relief perfectly. The fortress is very imposing, with its 9.6 km long and 3 to 7 m high stone wall. The main vestiges that can be admired there are the four gates at the four cardinal points, the castle of Suejangdae, located at the top of Mount Iljang as well as the Janggyeongsa temple which served as a refuge for the monks builders.

Cleveradvice . It is recommended that you come here at night to enjoy the magical view of Seoul from the fortress. In addition, restaurants are located in the heart of the fortress, which makes it easy for us to enjoy the place all day long.

This half-moon shaped gate is the most famous of the gates that belong to Hwaseong Fortress. This is the south door which has the peculiarity of being independent, detached from the rest of the structure. It's quite confusing though fascinating to see that nowadays it is used as a roundabout. This former guard platform has characteristics specific to western castles (battlements and loopholes). Just on its side, you can see a plaque with all the names of those who participated in its construction

This group of traditional buildings is an altar to the memory of Song Si-yeol (1607-1689), a scholar and statesman of Joseon. He was the tutor of King Hyojong and directed the neo-confucianist school Giho and adhered to the old doctrine (Noron). A little anecdote about Song Si-yeol: oral traditions say that in his early years, he is said to have possessed "magical powers" such as being able to read at night without a lamp or to see ghosts. We'll let you be the judge of that information. His notoriety increased as he grew older. This ritual specialist was a particularly virtuous conservative, which cost him his life. He reproached King Sukjong, who had raised one of his adulterous sons to the rank of prince, and was exiled to Jejudo. Called back to Seoul for trial, he was ordered to poison himself on the way (one bowl of poison was not enough to kill him, he had to ingest three). He was later rehabilitated and King Jeongjo raised the altar to him in 1785 (he himself wrote the plaque that adorns the main building). In addition to the altar itself (sadang), there is a pavilion facing the river, not far from the Daerosa memorial stele, which dates from 1787.

At the exit of the city before the bridge, Yeongweollu overlooks the river. This pavilion is in fact the former door of the district town hall, which was moved here when the new building was constructed in 1921. A good place to take pictures of the temple on the other side.

During the Goryo Dynasty (918-1392), this fortress was used in a defensive role, particularly due to its strategic position right on the Ganghwa Strait. The battery, which housed 8 guns, was built in 1679 and completely rebuilt in 1977. We can see a dragon-shaped battery (Yongdudondae) advancing on the water, very elegant; a fortified gate (Anhae-ru, 1745) and also the rest of the artillery. The French landed there and invaded in 1866, abandoning a few cannons.

It is the place where the people of Goryo resisted the Mongol invasion of 1231 for 39 years. King Gojong moved his capital there because of the strategic advantages the site had. He felt safe there. But four centuries later, in 1637, the palace was lost following a Manchu invasion. Nowadays, the only buildings that can be seen are the Dongheon and Ibangcheong offices, which belonged to local officials.

The fortress dates back to the time of the Three Kingdoms, but the visible buildings date from 1711, when King Sukjong undertook its construction to provide a refuge for the court in case of danger. After the Japanese invasions of 1592-1598 (Imjin War) and the Manchu invasions of 1636, the need for a safe place near the capital was indeed widely felt.

A fortified wall was built from Mount Ingwansan, near the palaces, to the fortress. This one is 10 km in circumference, but only 6 months were necessary for its construction: the heights of the mountains were judiciously used. The site appears to be naturally fortified. The valley in the centre included a palace, sheds, military buildings, temples, etc. The valley in the centre included a palace, sheds, military buildings, temples, etc. The valley in the centre included a palace, sheds, military buildings, temples, etc. These buildings, which never had to be used in an emergency, survived until the Korean War, when most of them were burned down. Of the 14 gates that made up the enclosure, only 3 have been rebuilt (Daeseomun, the only one partially spared, Daedongmun and Daenammun). All 143 guard posts have been destroyed. Five of the ten temples and two hermitages built for the soldier-monks remain.

This fortress is not comparable to the one in Suwon in terms of the beauty of the buildings but the site is really superb. Moreover, it is easily accessible from Seoul.

Nestled in the middle of the mountains, it offers a splendid view, especially in autumn. In winter, beware of ice on the stairs.