Jongmyo Shrine (Seoul, South Korea)

Jongmyo Shrine is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site.
Jongmyo Shrine is Historic Site Number 125

Jeongjeon (main hall) is National Treasure no 227. It is the location of the memorial tablets of 19 Joseon kings and queens. At 109 meters (357 feet) in length, the building is said be the longest single wooden structure in the world. The picture is below.

Yeongnyeongjeon is Treasure number 821

Jongmyo is a Confucian shrine dedicated to memorial services for the deceased kings and queens of the Korean Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897). Jongmyo Shrine was built by Lee Seong Gye (1335-1408), the first king and founding father of the Joseon Dynasty. It was a primary place of worship for kings throughout the Joseon Dynasty.

There is a 3-forked path of slightly raised roads that starts in front of the main gate. The middle path is in honor of kings of the past. The road leads to Jeongjeon where mortuary tablets of kings are preserved and memorial services are held. Jeongjeon has 19 rooms honoring 19 kings.

The east road is for the living king and the west is for the living prince. These paths connect to a room where the king and prince used to go for ceremonial cleansing and to prepare for memorial services. After they were prepared they moved into Jeonsacheong, a square shaped room with a yard where the food for the service was prepared.

Pictures:

https://plus.google.com/photos/106518880659515557565/albums/6056273409926863489

How to Get there: Jongno-3(sam)-ga Station (Subway Line 1), Exit 11
10-min walk from station.
Jongno-3(sam)-ga Station (Subway Line 3, 5), Exit 8.
10-min walk from station.

Closed on Tuesdays

Visitors may only enter on a guided tour (except Saturdays)

Admission: 1,000 won

Tour Schedule:

[General Tour]
Tour times vary according to interpretation services.
(* Available in Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)

[Free Tour]
Feb-May, Sep-Oct 09:00-18:00
Jun-Aug 09:00-18:30
Nov-Jan 09:00~17:30
(Free tours available on Saturdays only.)

Tour Length: 1 hour