Fortresses

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.

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.