The 5 Most Popular Royal Palaces In Korea

Korea boasts a rich | history and vibrant civilization that spans thousands of years, making love backmost to nan Goguryeo Dynasty. Korea’s humanities and taste bequest from food, music, and arts to architecture has lived to today. We mightiness beryllium acquainted pinch Korean cuisine, K-Pop, and K-Drama but really overmuch do we cognize astir nan accepted architecture successful Korea? Korean palaces and hanoks (traditional Korean houses) are nan astir typical architecture visitors tin still sojourn today. Let’s unravel nan top 5 royal palaces successful Korea you must visit!

What are nan 5 royal palaces successful Korea?

1. Gyeongbokgung Palace

Built successful 1395 during nan Joseon Dynasty, Gyeongbokgung is nan largest and astir iconic palace successful Seoul. Due to its immense perimeter, it utilized to service arsenic nan main royal palace, surviving up to its estimation arsenic 1 of nan apical royal palaces successful Korea. Today, though only immoderate buildings are restored and maintained, it is still magnificent to look at, particularly its beautiful architecture. A nosy fact, nan palace analyzable primitively contained hundreds of buildings during its premier clip but sadly underwent demolition during nan Japanese invasions successful nan precocious 16th century.

One of nan main attractions astatine Gyeongbokgung is nan Changing of nan Guard Ceremony wherever visitors tin witnesser nan accepted ceremonial held astatine nan main gate, which features colorful costumes and an awesome show of ceremonial subject drills. Gyeongbokgung besides houses nan National Palace Museum of Korea and nan National Folk Museum of Korea wherever you tin research exhibitions astir nan palace’s history, architecture, and significance.

There is besides a typical evening circuit only held doubly a twelvemonth during Spring and Fall for a constricted period. Check their charismatic website for further information. Foreigners tin get their tickets online, on-site (limited to 300 tickets per night), aliases get free admittance by wearing a Hanbok. Be judge to sojourn 1 of nan royal palaces successful Korea this time!

Closest subway station: Gyeongbokgung station (경복궁역) connected statement 3

2. Changdeokgung Palace

One of nan different royal palaces successful Korea you must sojourn is Changdeokgung. The analyzable was built successful 1405 and served arsenic nan secondary palace. It is said that Changdeokgung was favored by galore Joseon kings for its beautiful gardens and harmonious architecture. Similar to Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung besides suffered awesome harm during nan Japanese business but restoration efforts were made to sphere and uphold nan nation’s civilization and heritage. In 1997, nan palace was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Changdeokgung features 1 of nan astir beautiful attractions, nan Secret Garden. It is simply a beautiful scenery known for its tranquility, historical pavilions, and divers flora, peculiarly during cherry blossom play successful outpouring and colorful foliage successful autumn. Explore nan main palace buildings and participate successful seasonal taste programs, specified arsenic accepted euphony performances aliases seasonal festivals.

Changdeokgung Palace is different royal tract successful Korea that offers stunning nighttime tours done its yearly Moonlight Tour. Typically held during nan autumn months, this seasonal arena allows visitors to acquisition nan palace grounds aft dark. Since this is simply a paid event, please visit nan charismatic website for nan astir up-to-date schedule and summons information.

Closest subway station: Anguk station (안국역) connected statement 3.

3. Deoksugung Palace

Here’s a small inheritance connected 1 of nan royal palaces successful Korea, Deoksugung. Initially built successful nan precocious 14th century, it has humanities value arsenic a royal residence during nan precocious Joseon period. Only during nan precocious 19th century, it is designated arsenic nan main royal palace. Parts of nan building were rebuilt aliases modified during nan 20th period hence notable for its blend of Western and accepted Korean architectural styles.

Similar to Gyeongbokgung, Deoksugung hosts a changing of nan defender ceremony, providing a glimpse into accepted royal customs. A unsocial building surrounding nan palace is nan Stonewall Walkway that connects Deoksugung to adjacent Seoul attractions for illustration nan Seoul Museum of Art and nan celebrated shopping territory of Myeongdong.

If you wish to savor nan nighttime successful Deoksugung for illustration nan different royal palaces successful Korea, you tin see going for nan ‘Seokjojeon astatine Night‘ event. For elaborate circuit information, click here.

Closest subway station: City Hall position (시청역) connected statement 1 aliases 2.

4. Changgyeonggung Palace

Established successful nan 15th century, Changgyeonggung was utilized arsenic a residence for queens and concubines of nan Joseon kings. Today, it features humanities exhibitions and is known for its beautiful gardens! Do you cognize that a zoo was initially established connected nan grounds successful nan early 1900s? However, it was later demolished.

Being 1 of nan astir celebrated royal palaces successful Korea, Changgyeonggung is known for its beautiful plants landscape. You tin research nan palace’s unsocial architecture arsenic good arsenic return a leisure locomotion done nan palace’s grounds. Furthermore, you tin besides partake successful accepted crafts aliases beverage ceremonies. If you sojourn during typical festivals, location are accepted performances and games too!

Immerse successful nan ambiance of grace nether nan moonlight arsenic Changgyeonggung offers nighttime hours of operation. Good to statement that they are open astatine each times until 9 pm but closed connected Monday. Visitors tin acquisition carrying cheongsachorong (traditional Korean lanterns) and locomotion done nan palace astatine night.

Closest subway station: Anguk station (안국역) connected statement 3.

5. Temporary Palace astatine Hwaseong Fortress

Located successful Suwon, this Temporary Palace astatine Hwaseong Fortress was constructed by King Jeongjo successful nan precocious 18th period arsenic a guidelines for visiting his father’s tomb. It reflects nan king’s desire to uphold devout piety towards nan royal family and ancestors. Filial piety has shaped societal norms and family dynamics successful Korea for centuries.

Let america stock why this is 1 of nan apical 5 royal palaces successful Korea you must visit. The awesome Hwaseong Fortress itself is simply a UNESCO World Heritage site. There are well-maintained scenic stepping paths successful nan surrounding area wherever you tin bask hiking while taking successful nan panoramic views of earthy beauty. The on-site exhibitions and taste events showcase nan history of nan accepted Korean customs and practices from nan Joseon era. Surely a awesome acquisition to bask quality and history astatine nan aforesaid time.

Explore nan enchanting nighttime beauty of the Temporary Palace astatine Hwaseong Fortress done nan Special Evening Admission! Find retired much astir their events successful this link.

Directions from Seoul:

• Take subway statement 1 to Suwon station (수원역)
• Get retired from exit 7, and spell to nan nearest autobus stop. Most buses spell to Hwaseong Fortress. For reference, return autobus 66, 60, 5, 777, aliases 900. Alight astatine Hwaseomun Gate Jangan Park (화서문 장안공원).
• Walk towards nan guidance of nan Temporary Palace successful nan compound of Hwaseong Fortress.

Here we sum up our picks connected nan apical 5 royal palaces successful Korea. Share pinch america immoderate of your favourite royal palaces successful Korea if you do visit!

If you’re keen to find retired really we tin thief you study and unrecorded successful Korea, beryllium judge to contact us or find much retired successful this article. Also, don’t hide to travel the Go! Go! Hanguk blog for much content!