The N Seoul Tower, officially the YTN Seoul Tower and commonly known as the Namsan Tower or Seoul Tower, is a communication and observation tower located on Namsan Mountain in central Seoul, South Korea. The 784 ft. (236m.) tower marks the second highest point in Seoul and is considered a local landmark. Construction started in 1969 and it opened October 15, 1980.

I must apologize for the quality of this photo. I was in a crosswalk with minutes to spare. We could see the tower from our hotel, but I never thought to take a photo! Believe me when I say we were always on the run.

We saw the “Locks of Love” on our way up. There were thousands.

We were lucky enough to arrive when they were changing the guard.

The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony has been re-enacted in front of these gates since 1996, providing visitors with an opportunity to experience royal culture. 

A gazebo in now-familiar colors and design.

A view of downtown Seoul.

Pansies, Dusty Miller, Daisies and Lupines.

More pansies.

I was very surprised to see the Seoul City Wall from the Joseon Dynasty.

Signal fire mounds, a part of their defense system, were first established in 1394 (!) and remained in operation until 1894. Signals sent across the country from one mound to another, using smoke by day and fire at night, were received by the beacon at the top of Namsan and conveyed to the Royal Palace.

During the Colonial era of Joseon under the Japanese Empire, significant parts of the wall were demolished by the Japanese colonial government to modernize the cityscape of Seoul.

Finally, Namsan Tower at night. We had to catch our plane to Japan so didn’t see it in the evening. (Google photo)

Great weekend, everyone!

{carole}