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Hwaseong Fortress, Suwon

4.4

#1 of 40 in Things to do in Suwon

Historic Walking Area Landmark Must See

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Listed as a World Cultural Heritage Site, Hwaseong Fortress embodies the economic and militaristic power of the Joseon Dynasty at the end of the 18th century. Stretching for 5.52 km (3.43 mi), the partly restored fortress houses many different military facilities, along with the king's palace. Notice the holes in the walls which allowed easy gun/arrow fire and spear-attacking during the siege. As you explore along the long solid wall, observe the structures that surround it, like floodgates, watchtowers, wooden pavilions, and the beacon tower. You can attend a variety of performances here, as well as annual festivals, to fully experience the fort's history and tradition. For Hwaseong Fortress and beyond, use our Suwon driving holiday planner to get the most from your Suwon vacation.

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Hwaseong Fortress Reviews

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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

914 reviews

Google

4.4

• By dawns04966

  Spent the day here as part of a group... we had the added bonus of a tour guide which I think was helpful to understand some of the history of the Fortress. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site dating f...  more »

• By JOSE G

  A Suwon , una ciudad de tamaño mediano, se puede llegar en metro (1 hora), o en tren, 30 minutos desde la estación central. Cuando lleguen a la estación de Suwon deben coger el autobús 11 o 13 hasta l...  more »

  Suwon, a medium-sized city, can be reached by metro (1 hour), or by train, 30 minutes from Central Station. When you arrive at Suwon Station, take bus 11 or 13 to the fortress. It is paid directly in cash to the driver. Once in the fortress, you can visit the central palace, the museum and the exhibition of traditional Korean struggles on the central esplanade. The most interesting is to surround the wall (totally rebuilt) that can take about 4 hours. I recommend you go up to Seojangdae, the highest point of the fortress (short but hard path) and from there follow the wall. The views from this point are spectacular.
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• By Paul F

  An impressive UNESCO site in South Korea. The fortress walls can be hiked around but be aware there some very steep sections to traverse. It's always awesome to see schedule historical places in person that had such an influence on a country's culture. The fortress walls and area are free to walk, if you wish to tour the actual fortress area there is 1,500 won fee, extremely cheap by any standards. Unfortunately, there is only one section of the original fortress still standing; one can guess what war does to a country, it's infrastructure, and history. If you're ever in Suwon, I recommend seeing this inspiring bit of history. Plan to spend at least a whole day here. Afterwards, there are many places to eat and a great deal of shops to walk around and check out.

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• By Ruslman Linderman

  This fortress will impress ... any sightseer. It is an UNESCO world heritage site and for good reason, this was an absolute gem! It was a great way to spend a day or a few. You can hike the wall and then take a break and tuck into a local establishment for a bite to eat. It is fun for all ages. I will let my photos do the rest of the talking.

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