Changdeokgung Palace was built as a secondary palace in 1405, under King Taejong's reign; it served as a residence for many kings then later served as the main palace. In 1592, the Japanese invaded Korea and both palaces were destroyed. Although it was originally secondary, only Changdeokgung was restored because Gyeongbokgung (the first palace) was no longer considered favorable. Thus, in 1610 Changdeokgung was restored and served as the main palace for the next 258 years until Gyeongbokgung was finally rebuilt in 1868.
What is unique about Changdeokgung is it's location. It is believed the buildings are laid out in harmony with the area's topography; the palace has an asymmetric beauty that is unique to Korea. The layout is welcoming and comfortable to the royal family. This palace spreads over approx. 104 acres of land and has a secret garden. Artificial landscaping has been kept to a minimum. We were only able to access part of the secret garden and we plan on revisiting the palace in autumn or spring to view the vegetation in splendid colors. Click on the picture in the slide show below to view them bigger; it will redirect you to another page where you can view the entire album.
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