Tourist Attractions & Monuments South Korea

This is where Hwangnyongsa Temple, the largest of the Silla temples, was located. He had a gigantic hall containing 3 huge golden statues of the Buddha. In front of it stood a 9-storey wooden pagoda 70 m high! It burned 5 times and was rebuilt until the Mongols destroyed it permanently in 1238. There is nothing left of this temple except the foundation stones. More than 40,000 objects were discovered, some of which are on display at the National Museum.

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.

This street located in the heart of Daegu (Bongsan-dong district, Jung-gu) has no particular aesthetic interest except that it houses several art galleries, a cultural center, but also various workshops where you will be introduced for free to the work of craftsmen. It's sort of a small version of Insadong on Seoul (but less crowded) and there are many cafes there as well. Don't hesitate to go to the Bongsan Cultural Center to discover the local art and culture.

This temple was founded in 420 by the Ado monk of Goguryeo who traveled to Korea to spread Buddhism. It was rebuilt in 556, and in the 7th century became one of the ten centres of the Hwaeom sect established in Korea by the monk Uisang. Rebuilt in 887, it was destroyed by the Japanese. Rebuilt shortly afterwards in 1604, most of its buildings date from this period. It is home to several unique treasures. The courtyard hall dates back to the middle of Joseon. Daeungjeon Main Hall dates back to 1604. Not far away is the Samseonggak pavilion dedicated to the three shamanic-buddhic deities: the seven stars, the mountain god (Sansin) and the solitary ascetic. There is a three-storey stone pagoda dating back to 1659, where the history of the foundation of the temple is written. A bronze bell dating from 1584 is also preserved. In one of the halls, about 100 xylographic plates dating from 1569 contain two sutras. Below is the Byeochungwon Shrine (1738), where are kept the portraits of three soldier-monks who distinguished themselves in the defence of the country against the Japanese in 1592: Seosan, Sa-myeong, Yeonggyu. In the back of the temple you can see olive-shaped reliquaries of different masters. To the right of the temple, towards the torrent, other structures are also interesting. A nice traditional tea room overlooks the stream. There is also a statue of Yaksa Yeorae, the Medicine Buddha, from Goryeo. You can go into the mountains to the hermitages, the waterfall and Donghaksa. Further down, away, the Daejeokjeon hall is dedicated to Vairocana.

In front, in the clearing, stands a beautifully carved octagonal saribudo. The path leading down from there between the trees leads to another clearing where a pole for the temple flag stands. This iron mast, composed of twenty-four cylinders (originally twenty-eight, but four were destroyed in 1899) dates from Silla (680). It was erected by the monk Uisang and is one of the few such monuments still standing in a temple. Under Silla, all the temples had a similar mast on which flags and banners were hung. Then we go down along the torrent in a pretty valley. We pass in front of a charming minbak which also makes a restaurant, isolated in front of the water. If you want to stay at the temple, this is the place to be. Otherwise, further down in the tourist village, you will find the usual yeogwans and restaurants, not unpleasant otherwise. There is also a campground.

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.

Originally, this building, whose architecture happens to be a subtle blend of modern and traditional, was the residence of the Secretary General of the Presidency of South Korea and was therefore closed to the public. The museum, which opened in 2010, offers an immersion into the history of Korean politics with the aim of offering visitors a wide range of Korean culture in one place. A good complement to visits to the DMZ and the city's main museums, to understand Korea as it presents itself to us today.