Changdeok-gung

Changdeok-gung, Seoul : Due to it’s position relative to Gyeongbok-gung, this place is known as the eastern palace. Built originally around the early 1400’s and, like most palaces in Korea over the centuries, this one was attacked, raided, sacked, burned and frequently rebuilt. (Even the Americans and the French took a turn at attacking this…

Hanbok in the palace

A Séoul, il y a plusieurs palais royaux d’un intérêt visuel certain. Ces palais sont encore plus sympas du fait que beaucoup de coréennes et coréens se promènent dans le palais en costume traditionnel (le hanbok). Il n’est pas nécessaire de posséder son costume car de multiples boutiques à proximité louent ces vêtements. Et habillé…

Gyeongbok-gung

Originally built in 1394, destroyed around 1595 during the war with Japan, abandoned until the 1850’s, rebuilt and then again partially destroyed during the Japanese occupation of Korea in the 20th century, the Gyeongbok palace has seen a lot of action. Since the 1990s, a major renovation and rebuilding exercise has returned about 40% this…

Road to Baegundae

Bukhansan, on the northern edge of Seoul, is a Korean national park. The terrain is mountainous – even if the mountains are not too tall (max about 800 m). The park is full of things to discover and is a favourite nature getaway for Seoulites. The hiking trails are numerous and well marked and the…

On Baegundae

About 300 m before reaching the top of Baegundae (in Bukhansan national Park, Seoul, South Korea), there is a fortress gate, various signposts and an arrow pointing to the top. I recorded the altitudes for this segment with a GPS device. Over 300 m, the vertical climb is about 230 m. However you calculate slopes,…