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The Fortresses & the Walls

- SAMNYONSANSONG -





This wall is old - - - -
Construction was started in year 470, and it is said that it took 3 years to finish the job.
The Samnyon mountain fortress was once the most important forward base of the Shilla kingdom's northwest frontier.
Here the Shilla King,- Taejong Muyol-wang (654 - 661) -, met with an emissary from China's Tang dynasty and formed the alliance that eventually led to the defeat of the two other kingdoms on the Korean peninsula,-  Paekche  and Koguryo.

This important historical relic is way out of the tourist trail, and is left in ruins.
However,- an extensive restoration is going on, so without doubt that will change very soon.
Therefore,- hurry up to go and see the old walls before they are completely restored, and thereby forever loosing the special "feeling" that only ruins possess.

I visited the Sanmyonsansong in year 2001 ,- in mist and drizzling rain -, which made my photo work difficult, - but the rain and the somewhat bad light conditions created an almost dream-like atmosphere that perfectly suited the old, crumbling walls.

Please enjoy my impressions from a trip to the old mountain fortress Samnyonsansong - - -
 
 

In front of these old walls, the Paekche army suffered a shattering defeat.
This event was the end of the almighty Paekche kingdom.
 
 
 
 

The wall is built of flat stones and measures about 1,7 km. in circumference.
 
 
 
 
 

The wall must have been around 13 m. high and about 8 - 10 m wide.
 
 
 
 


 
 
 
 
 
 


 
 
 
 
 


 
 
 
 
 
 

Remains of the collapsed wall seen from above - -
 
 
 
 
 


 
 
 
 
 

Azaleas decorating the old walls - -
 
 
 
 

Here a section of the newly restored wall - -
 
 
 

BACK to "The Fortresses & the Walls" -

Updated:  May 16th. 2004
 
 
 
 
 
 
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