Changdeokgung and its secret garden in Seoul
Published on 08/18/2026 at 20:41 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Changdeokgung in Seoul is a royal palace where architecture and woodland share the same valley, creating a residence that unfolds gradually as pavilions and courts rise up a slope. Built in the early fifteenth century for the Joseon dynasty and later recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it combines formal throne halls with a rear garden shaped around existing topography.
Joseon kings, a secondary palace and a wooded valley
Changdeokgung was constructed in 1405 during the reign of King Taejong of the Joseon dynasty as a secondary palace to Gyeongbokgung.Changdeokgung was constructed in 1405 From the beginning it occupied a broad site in Waryong-dong in Jongno-gu, against the lower slopes of Mount Baegaksan at the northern edge of central Seoul.a 57.9 ha site in Jongno-gu
Although conceived as a secondary residence, Changdeokgung later became the principal home of many Joseon kings, especially after Gyeongbokgung was damaged by fire during the Japanese invasions of Korea in the sixteenth century.one of the five Royal Palaces of the Joseon dynasty The complex is arranged along a main axis of gates and audience halls, with residential quarters stepping back into the wooded terrain rather than standing on a single flat esplanade.
Palace architecture adapted to terrain
The buildings of Changdeokgung follow the timber-and-tile construction typical of Joseon palace architecture, with bracketed wooden roofs, painted eaves and stone foundations aligning with gentle gradients in the land.Far Eastern palace architecture and garden design Instead of forcing the site into symmetry, the planners let halls, gates and courtyards conform to the contours of the valley, producing slightly angled axes and level changes between major buildings.
Changdeokgung stands out among the remaining Joseon palaces because a large proportion of its historic fabric survives with comparatively little modern replacement, including throne rooms, official reception halls and living quarters used by the royal family.the most well-preserved of the five remaining royal Joseon palaces Stone platforms, stairways and enclosing walls articulate the shifts in height, while the palace roofs form a layered silhouette against the backdrop of forested slopes.
The Secret Garden: Huwon behind the palace
Behind the main palace compound lies Huwon, the Secret Garden, occupying a substantial area of wooded hillside and containing ponds, pavilions and open lawns set among native trees.The Secret Garden at Changdeokgung Palace Historically reserved for the Joseon royal family, this rear garden formed an intimate landscape for ceremonies, literary gatherings and quiet retreats away from the formal courtyards of the front compound.historically known as Biwon, meaning “Secret Garden”
Huwon follows the natural lie of the land rather than imposing rigid terraces, with paths and clearings winding around small valleys, stream courses and water features. Pavilions stand beside ponds and under mature trees, making the garden a textbook example of traditional Korean landscape composition where built structures are interwoven with topography and planting.traditional Korean landscape architecture
Visiting Changdeokgung: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Changdeokgung stands in Jongno-gu in northern Seoul, with its main entrance reached on foot from Anguk Station on Line 3 of the Seoul Metro.
- The palace complex includes long gently sloping approaches and stone stairways, and visiting the Secret Garden involves further walking on uneven, sometimes uphill paths.
- The official language is Korean and the currency is the South Korean won.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Changdeokgung
Where is Changdeokgung located within Seoul?
Changdeokgung occupies a large site in Jongno-gu in northern Seoul, at the foot of Ungbong Peak of Mount Baegaksan, close to Anguk Station.
What should visitors expect when exploring Changdeokgung?
Visitors encounter a sequence of timber palace halls, courtyards and residential quarters set against forested slopes, followed by the expansive Secret Garden with ponds and pavilions.
What makes Changdeokgung distinctive among Korean palaces?
Changdeokgung is distinctive for its integration of Joseon palace architecture with wooded terrain, and for Huwon, a rear garden where traditional Korean landscaping follows natural topography.
