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Namhansansong
(Provinsial Park)
- the Southern Mountain Fortress
-
The Namhansansong Provincial Park has most
likely not been designated a nature park due to its scenic beauty, but
more likely due to the magnificent historical mountain fortress Namhansansong.
That does not mean that the scenery is bad,
but it simply cannot compete with those breathtaking views that can be
found in other Korean National- and Provincial Parks.
However,- what Mother Nature did not accomplish,
was certainly compensated for by the activities of the Korean fortress
and wall builders - - -
This impressing mountain fortress was built
with the main purpose of protecting Korea from the Manchus, but when the
attack finally came, not even these massive walls could not stop the advancing
Manchu army!
In 1637 the fortress fell to the Manchu army,
and Korea was forced to accept the Chinese Emperor as supreme ruler.
All this is history now, - but the walls and
gates of this massive fortress still stand to this day.
The total length of the wall is about 8 kilometres,
which should make it possible to walk around the entire length of the wall
in one go, - but just like all other things in life, it is much better
to do it more slowly, so that you do not overdraw your time-account too
much and thereby becoming restless and loosing the "feeling" of the real
world around you - - -
Therefore I visited the fortress several
times at different seasons, and the following pictures are a mixture from
two of those visits.
As you can see, the Namhansansong wall could
remind of the real thing,- the Great Wall of China -, as it twists and
turns along the mountain slopes, valleys and peaks.
The western part of the wall is beautifully
restored, and this is where you find the tourist groups, who can easily
walk the restored section during a day trip, leaving time for a lunch at
the tourist service area, before the bus returns to Seoul.
However,- the eastern part is still not restored
and lies partly in ruins.
This part is for me more interesting, - somehow
ruins seems to "talk" to me -, and the best thing is that no tourists explore
this "wild" section, which means that you have it all to yourself, - and
it is fantastic!
I have decided to split this page in two parts,-
the first part the restored section of the wall, - and the second covering
the "wild" section still in ruins!
Judge for yourself which one is best!
:-)
Namhansansong
- one of the fortress gates,
- Tong Mun -, the East Gate -
(Photography by Karsten Petersen)
Namhansansong
- the wall, - as it twists and turns its
way over the mountains -
(Photography by Karsten Petersen)
Namhansansong
- a historical wall, - and
a great place for a picnic -
(Photography by Karsten Petersen)
Namhansansong
- this is Nam Mun, - the South
Gate -
(Photography by Karsten Petersen)
Namhansansong
- Nam Mun, - the South
Gate -, from road level -
(Photography by Karsten Petersen)
Namhansansong
- a look through Nam
Mun -
(Photography by Karsten Petersen)
Namhansansong
How are door halves on
a fortress gate hinged??? Well, - look here and see -
Take note of the metal cladding
on the door.
Well, - look here and see!
(Photography by Karsten Petersen)
Namhansansong
- back to the wall, - twisting
and turning across the mountain -
(Photography by Karsten Petersen)
Namhansansong
- another view from the wall
-
(Photography by Karsten Petersen)
Namhansansong
- the wall, - like a giant
snake -
(Photography by Karsten Petersen)
Namhansansong
- detail -
(Photography by Karsten Petersen)
Namhansansong
- the wall, - beautifully restored
to its former glory -
(Photography by Karsten Petersen)
Namhansansong
- almost appearing like new
-
(Photography by Karsten Petersen)
Namhansansong
- one of the four command posts,
- the Suojangdae -, at the highest point of the fortress -
(Photography by Karsten Petersen)
Namhansabsong
- along the fortress wall -
(Photography by Karsten Petersen)
Namhansansong
- the wall and the watch tower
of So Mun, - the West Gate -
(Photography by Karsten Petersen)
Namhansansong
- twisting and turning towards
the North gate -
(Photography by Karsten Petersen)
Namhansansong
- Buk Mun, - the North Gate
-
(Photography by Karsten Petersen)
Following is a series of pictures taken along
the more exiting and partly unrestored section of the wall, between Buk
Mun and further on towards Tong Mun, - the East Gate -, and Nam Mun, -
the South Gate - - -
The good thing is, that the tourist groups
stay away from this part of the wall, - you have it all to yourself -,
and there are days and days of exiting exploring to do between the ruins
scattered over the mountain sides - - -
Namhansansong
- an unrestored section of
the wall -
(Photography by Karsten Petersen)
Namhansansong
- the trail along the crumbling
wall -
(Photography by Karsten Petersen)
Namhansansong
- a section of the wall under
resoration -
(Photography by Karsten Petersen)
Namhansansong
- along the wall -
(Photography by Karsten Petersen)
Namhansansong
- along the wall - twisting
and turning -
(Photography by Karsten Petersen)
Namhansansong
- detail, - a hole in the wall
-
(Photography by Karsten Petersen)
Namhansansong
- view from the other side
of the hole in the wall -
(Photography by Karsten Petersen)
Namhansansong
- and a look back to the hole
in the wall -
(Photography by Karsten Petersen)
Namhansanong
- suddenly coming to a beautifully
restored section of the wall -
(Photography by Karsten Petersen)
Namhansansong
- view over the ruins of the
wall between the east gate and the south gate -
(Photography by Karsten Petersen)
Namhansansong
- another great view of the
unrestored wall -
(Photography by Karsten Petersen)
Namhansansong
- a view over the ruins of
a still untouched advanced position -
Take note of the tomb site
to the right in the picture.
(Photography by Karsten Petersen)
Namhansansong
- a closer, - and final -,
look at the Southern Mountain Fortress -
(Photography by Karsten Petersen)
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Updated: June 23rd.
2003
March 03. 2005
April 17. 2005
March 06.2008