Three locations in one day: The Garden of Morning Calm, Petite France, Pinocchio e Da Vinci
Gapyeong is the perfect destination for a one-day trip considering the rather close distance from Seoul. It can be reached within an hour and a half by car and is easily accessible by public transportation from the capital: one can take a bus or utilize subway to get there. Moreover, Gapyeong has a lot to offer: some of its representative tourist spots include The Garden of Morning Calm, Petite France, as well as a new attraction - Pinocchio e Da Vinci, an Italian-themed village. To get around in Gapyeong between these locations, one can use a public bus but should be mindful of the long intervals between buses, so taxi could also be an option to consider. The taxis costs usually an average of 15,000 won to get from one place to another. It is also recommended taking the Gapyeong City Tour Bus due to its convenience. It has a fixed schedule and stops at all the major attractions including those covered in this article.
1. The Garden of Morning Calm
▶Address: Sangmyeon Sumogwonro 432, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do
▶Operation Hours: 8:30AM - 6PM
▶Entrance ticket:
Adult – 9,500won
Youth – 7,000won
Children – 6,000won
The enormous garden gained its name from the reputation that Korea upholds, beauty. The Garden of Morning Calm portrays the essence and the beauty the country has to offer. The park is open all year round regardless of the time of the year, and each of the four seasons features a completely different and unique scenery. During the winter, the garden is covered in strings of colorful light bulbs, and thus creating an enchanting atmosphere that is usually only seen in movies. If you have plans to visit in the fall season, the recommended period to visit the garden is from mid-October through mid-November to see fall foliage at its finest.
Due to the vast territory, one can spend a whole day strolling in the park while exploring each corner. Inside the park, there are a wide variety of different themed gardens and zones ranging from a traditional Korean garden, to greenhouses displaying some of the most exotic plants, trees, and flowers.
There is also an observation deck overlooking the park that can be reached by a staircase and a suspension bridge for a more thrilling experience.
Besides the gardens, one can also find souvenir shops, as well as a Korean restaurant, a bakery, and a café where guests can stop for a rest after roaming around the park. During warm seasons, visitors can also relax in the Korean-style summer houses seen all over the park.
2. Petite France
▶Address: 1063 Hoban‐ro, Cheongpyeong‐myeon, Gapyeong‐gun, Gyeonggi-do
▶Operation Hours: 9 AM – 6 PM
▶Entrance Ticket:
Adult - 10,000won
Online booking - 8,000
A small French cultural village, also known as Petite France, was the first cultural village representing another country in Korea. It has been featured in various Korean dramas, which explains the influx of tourists followed afterward. Those dramas include the famous ‘My Love from the Star’ and ‘Secret Garden’.
Not only is the place popular with K-pop lovers, but also ‘The Little Prince’ fans, as the popular tale is featured throughout the village.
The village’s territory consists of numerous colorful houses, each serving as a small museum on its own, or a souvenir shop. Some of the museums replicate the traditional French interior styles, allowing their visitors to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of a French village.
Those who have been to Paris at least once will also recognize the replica of the renowned Wall of Love in Montmartre, which features ‘I Love You’ in over 250 different languages.
3. Pinocchio e Da Vinci
▶Entrance Ticket:
Adult - 11,000won
Online booking- 9,000won
Opened earlier this year on May 1st, the Italian cultural village is a fairly new sight. The village is located right above the French village mentioned earlier, which makes it convenient for visitors to visit both at once. Both share the same operating hours.
At the entrance, a tall statue of Pinocchio, a famous fairytale character is installed for a warm welcome to visitors. In fact, similarly to Petite France with the Little Prince, the Italian village displays a lot of references to the fairytale and the painter it was named after.
Strolling the alleys of the village, one can find oneself oblivious to the fact that they’re in Korea. The architecture was inspired by Tuscany in Italy, a place known for its Renaissance art and culture. Some of the buildings even represent the medieval period, as their design was inspired by the ancient castles from the specific era.
There are different performances held from time to time at the outdoor concert halls and theaters. Additionally, the village also exhibits a variety of antiques and music boxes with moving dolls transported all the way from Italy. Not to mention some hands-on experience available to visitors, such as trying on traditional masquerade masks.
There is also a discount for those visiting both villages:
Adult - 19,500won
Online Reservation - 16,000won
Image source: yelenahan, joonfoto
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