Fodor's Expert Review Jongmyo Shrine

Another of Seoul's UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites, Jongmyo is the royal shrine of the Joseon kings and queens. Completed in 1395, the shrine houses stone tablets said to contain the spirits of these long deceased rulers. Like the palaces of Seoul, Jongmyo was destroyed in 1592, but rebuilt and expanded soon after. The forested grounds make for a peaceful setting, but the highlight here is the shrine itself, credited as the longest wooden structure in the world. Fronted by an expansive, 150-meter-long (492-foot) raised stone yard, it is an impressive sight. More than any other destination in Seoul, Jongmyo makes one feel very, very small—possibly the intended effect in the face of ancient royal spirits. The first Sunday in May Jongmyo hosts the jerye, a slow but colorful Confucian ceremony honoring the old royalty.