Gyeongbokgung Palace

Location: Seoul, Korea

Subway Stop: Gyeongbokgung

Admission required

Gyeongbokgung was a much bigger palace than I had anticipated.  Who knew the Koreans lived in such grandeur and luxury once upon a time!  The gardens are beautiful and vast.  Since so much of Korea is so westernized, this was a good way to see some of old Korea.  Check the website before visiting as there are certain day(s) of the week the palace is closed.

The juxtaposition of new and old is very cool.

Architectural detail

Walking through the grounds of the palace

The gardens

 

The gardens

There are a few other palaces in Seoul that I didn't get around to visiting, but a few of my friends have seen.  If you get around to seeing them, please let me know how you liked them!

Changdeokgung Palace

Jongmyo Shrine

Changgyeonggung Palace

Deoksugung Palace

Mirabell Palace and Gardens

Salzburg, Austria

Schönbrunn Palace

Vienna, Austria
Recommended Visit Time Required: 2 hours minimum
Underground Stop: U4, Schonbrunn

Schonbrunn Palace

 

The 1,441-room Schönbrunn Palace was designed for the Habsburgs.  It was built between 1696 and 1712 at the request of Emperor Leopold I for his son, Joseph I.  Leopold envisioned a palace whose grandeur would surpass that of Versailles.  However, Austria's treasury, drained by the cost of wars, would not support the ambitious undertaking, and the original plans were never carried out.

The Gloriette

I arrived too late in the day to tour the palace, and I wished I had come sooner so I could thoroughly enjoy the gardens. I had never seen a garden so big- it was probably ten times, or more, the size of the palace.  

Map of the Gardens

The Obelisk Fountain

Roman Ruin