Hwaseong fortress

The Hwaseong fortress, officially the Suwon Hwaseong, is a monumental military and political construction dating from the late Joseon dynasty. Built between 1794 and 1796 under the orders of King Jeongjo, its primary purpose was to house and honour the remains of his father, Prince Sado, whom he relocated to the nearby tomb of Mount Paldal. The fortress was designed to function as a planned new city, complete with administrative, commercial, and defensive facilities, strategically located to project royal power away from the entrenched factions in the capital, Hanyang (modern Seoul).
The design and execution of the fortress mark a significant departure from standard Korean military architecture. Under the guidance of the renowned architect Jeong Yak-yong, the construction integrated both traditional Eastern styles and Western military innovations encountered through publications brought back from China. The walls stretch for 5.74km, enclosing an area of 130 hectares, and incorporate a diverse array of facilities. These include four main gates, command posts, observation towers, multi-platform bastions, secret gates for surprise attacks, and beacon towers, all adapted to the local topography.
The Hwaseong Fortress was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.
How to get to the Hwaseong fortress
The fortress can be easily reached by public transportation from Seoul.
Accommodation
There are countless hotels in Seoul, bookable via international hotel booking portals.