Thursday Doors: Changdeokgung Palace

Changdeokgung Palace in Seoul, South Korea is a UNESCO World Heritage site built in 1405 and restored in 1611. Behind the palace it has a rear garden, also known as the “secret garden,” which one can tour in English.

Changdeokgung was was the principal palace for many kings of the Joseon Dynasty. And the secret garden was a place for them to relax, study, worship, and be in nature.

A place for the emperor or crown prince to worship. You had to take off your shoes to preserve the original flooring.

Our tour guide in front of one of the Pavilions

A place of worship

There were also residences for the court, including concubines and their children.

The doors below led to an underground furnace and chimney, which supplied the under-floor heating system, necessary in winter to heat the entire palace.

See pictures of it in the fall with the beautiful leaves changing color here: Huwon Secret Garden.

This post is for Norm 2.0’s Thursday Doors, a weekly feature allowing door lovers to come together to admire and share their favorite door photos from around the world. I’ll be sharing doors from my recent trip to East Asia for the next several Thursdays.