-Country: South Korea, Seoul.
-Address: 99 Yulgok-ro, Waryong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea.
- Changdeokgung Palace: is a tourist attraction in South Korea.
-It is one of the five palaces built by the kings of Joseon, an ancient Korean empire, and "Changdeokgung Palace" was considered their favorite palace, and many elements of the Three Kingdoms period that were not merged with Gyeongbok Palace remain.
-The palace has been affected by several factors throughout history, such as occupation, in which only 30 percent of the original building remained, and like the other five major palaces in Seoul, was severely damaged; during the Japanese occupation of Korea (1910-1945), in which only about 30 percent of the original pre-occupation structure remained.
-The palace is considered second only to the "Gyeongbok Palace" built in 1395 AD as the main palace, and the authority of the "Gyeongbok Palace" collapsed amid the struggle for the throne between the princes and their supporters.
- Prince Jong' an (Ie Bangwon, King Taejong), who moved the capital to Goryeo, elected Jongjung as king (the capital of Goryeo Kingdom, Kaesong).
-He returned to Hansong (Seoul) after King Taejung (Ie Bang Won) took possession of the throne, and founded "Changdeok Palace" to replace "Gyeongbok" in which his half-brothers were killed, and whose construction was directed by "Jeong Do Joon", a rival of the king of Before.
-The construction of the palace began in 1405 AD and ended in 1412 AD, and the palace grounds were enlarged by about 500,000 square meters by King Songo, including Ho Won (back garden).
The palace was completely burned down during the Japanese invasion in 1592 AD and rebuilt in 1609 AD by King "Songo" and King "Guanghai", and another fire occurred in 1623 AD due to King Injo's political revolt against "Guanghai"
-The Manchu King also attacked the palace, which retained its original architecture despite its long history.
-Until 1868 AD, when the adjacent "Gyeongbok Palace" was restored, the palace was the seat of the royal court and government. "Songjung", the last Korean emperor, resided in the palace until his death in 1926.
Significant areas of Changdeokgung
Donhwamun:
The main gate of the palace through which you enter Changdeokgung. You can buy tickets right outside the gate.
Geumcheongyo:
The bridge, which has existed since 1411, is the oldest building in the palace. It is also known as one of the oldest stone bridges in Seoul.
Nakseonjae Complex:
King Heonjong had it built for himself in 1656 so he could relax and read. It also served as the quarters of the crown prince. Lee Bangja , the wife of the last Korean crown prince, used it until 1989.
Huijeongdang:
The royal bedchamber where the king spent most of his time. The new incarnation of Huijeongdang, which is just a century old, is actually quite different from its original design.
The Secret Garden of Changdeokgung Palace.
As mentioned earlier, Changdeokgung was built in 1405 as the second royal palace. Although Kim Taejong believed it was because of the topography of Gyeongbokgung which seemed to be unfortunate, many believe it was because he killed his brothers in the main palace and did not want to rule from the same place. After the Japanese invasions in the late 1500s, all the palaces were damaged. It was the first palace to be renovated and served as the main residence of the monarchy for nearly 300 years.
The architecture of Changdeokgung also makes it a special palace to visit. The architects built the palace in harmony with nature, rather than letting actual nature work with their design. They kept artificial landscapes to a minimum while working on the Secret Garden to better reflect the natural environment.
Over the centuries, the Secret Garden has been used for everything from banquets to recreation to agriculture.
The significant areas of the Secret Garden
Buyongji and Juhamnu:
The first visit on your tour will be Buyongji, a beautiful rectangular lake.
Jondeokjeong:
It has several beautiful pavilions surrounding a pond. It is one of the most popular attractions of the garden.
Aeryeonji and Uiduhap:
Another pond can be found there. The lotus flower is represented by Aeryeonji, a small pavilion that juts out at one end.
The way to the palace:
-The nearest train station: Anguk Subway Line Station 3 - Exit 3.
-What to tell the taxi: Changdeokgung /창덕궁 .
From the author: Merna Mohamed Fathy.
"Merna Mohamed is an Egyptian girl who is interested in Korean culture, food and archeological sites. She is passionate about Korean culture and loves to strive and achieve her dream to study in Korea and let everyone know how great this culture is and let Korea lovers know the unknown side of Korean development and on the other hand the historical monuments. She wants to discover the social potential and values of Korea and pass it on to you".
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