Fortresses

The fortress sits right next to Gongju’s Geumgang River so there are many beautiful scenic views. Amongst the Baekje remnants you can see fortress walls, gates, pavilions, a pond, a commemorative inscription, a temple and a palace site. The fortress was also used during the Goryeo Dynasty and Joseon Dynasty and it is known that King Injo (1595-1649) of the Joseon Dynasty temporarily stayed in Ssangsujeong Pavilion, which still survives today. It is possible to walk around the whole site, which takes around an hour but it can much longer if you wish to fully investigate all of the different places. It is worth noting that some areas are original whilst others, such as the east and west gates, have been restored. You can walk to the highest points of the fortress for stunning views of the river and the modern-day city of Gongju. The Tomb of King Muryeong and the Royal Tombs, which are also part of the Baekje Historic Areas, are located just a short distance away.

Entrance view
Entrance view
Gongbungnu Gate Pavillion
Gongbungnu Gate Pavillion
Palace area view from Gongbungnu Gate Pavillion
Palace area view from Gongbungnu Gate Pavillion
Palace area overview
Palace area overview
Gongsanseong Fortress

Gongsanseong Fortress in Gongju is one of eight different sites that make up the UNESCO World Heritage Inscription for the Baekje Historic Areas, which also incorporates nearby sites in Buyeo and Iksan. The Baekje Historic Areas were inscribed due to the connections between Korea, China and Japan in terms of the development of building techniques, the expansion of Buddhism, and more generally for Baekje’s exceptional accomplishments in art, culture and religion. The Baekje Kingdom dates from 18 BCE to 660 CE and it was one of what is known as the Three Kingdoms, along with Goguryeo and Silla. The Baekje Kingdom has three periods, which are based on the location of the capital. They are the Hanseong Period (18 BCE to 475 CE), the Ungjin Period (475-538 CE) and the Sabi Period (538 to 660 CE). The present-day cities of those capitals are Seoul (Hanseong), Gongju (Unglin) and Buyeo (Sabi).

Palace pond remains
Palace pond remains
Pavilion vew from the palace area
Pavilion vew from the palace area
High fortress wall view
High fortress wall view
Low fortress wall view
Low fortress wall view
Hwaseong Fortress

Out of all the cultural heritage sites in South Korea, Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon remains a favourite. As soon as you arrive, it becomes very clear why it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Joseon Dynasty fortress is made up of different parts that today seem unconnected. There is a wall, which extends for almost 6km, and numerous buildings. The eastern section is the largest remaining part of the wall and that alone has a gate, two corner pavilions, an archery platform, a guard pavilion, and a command post. You can take a stroll along the path by the wall to explore the buildings, take in superb views of the surrounding areas, or you can head to the other side of the wall for a ground view. The ground view is particularly nice in the evening when the light is dimming or in the spring and summer when the flowers around the fortress and pond are in bloom. The eastern section wall walk takes you to the northern watergate, which sits in a very picturesque fashion over the Suwoncheon Stream.

Hwaseong Fortress wall and guard pavilion
Hwaseong Fortress wall and guard pavilion
Hwaseong Fortress corner pavilion
Hwaseong Fortress corner pavilion
Hwaseong Fortress northern watergate
Hwaseong Fortress northern watergate
Hwaseong Fortress wall and buildings
Hwaseong Fortress wall and buildings
Changnyongmun Gate
Changnyongmun Gate
Banghwasuryujeong Pavilion
Banghwasuryujeong Pavilion
Northeast guard pavilion
Northeast guard pavilion

There is so much more to the fortress than the eastern section however, and that can get a little confusing. If you are using public transport from Suwon Station for example, it is very possible that you will come across the south gate, which stands alone and in the middle of a very busy road that is surrounded by shopping streets. There are other gates and remains at different locations around the city, but you do need to know their location as there is no clear signage giving directions around the different areas. There is a tourist office at the eastern section of the fortress where you can pick up a map. There is also a Hwaseong Fortress Tourist Trolley that can take visitors on a 40-50-minute tour of different parts of the fortress and Hwaseong Haenggung, which is a nearby temporary palace. The tour may not run in adverse weather conditions and it does not cover all parts of the fortress, but it can be really useful in getting around different areas. The whole fortress is worth a visit, but if you are only able to visit one part, then do make it the eastern section, which is the largest, has more facilities, and offers really beautiful views.