Why this ride
A 183 km round trip from Gwangtan - roughly 3 h 47 in the saddle. On the way it passes Jangneung Cluster, Olleung Cluster, Donggureung Cluster and back through Olleung Cluster.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Pajusamreung Cluster and Donggureung Cluster
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 183 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 3 h 47
- Journey
- Recorded itinerary
Distance and timing basis
Ordered leg totals agree within rounding. Stop distances are approximate sums of rounded legs. Stops, delays, approach and any separate return travel add time. Basis: producer-declared routed record.
Reading history stays on this device. My road watch requires a separate selection; opening it does not subscribe this ride.
Distance and riding time are measured on the routed road. Check local closures and conditions before you ride.
Waypoint introductions and full write-ups
1. Pajusamreung Cluster
Close to the most heavily fortified border in the world, three royal tombs of the Joseon dynasty lie in a quiet pine forest in Paju, north of Seoul. Pajusamreung, the three tombs of Paju, include the resting places of Queen Jangsun and Queen Gonghye, both married to kings and both of whom died young, and of King Jinjong, honoured after his early death. Like all the Joseon royal tombs, they follow a precise layout of spirit gates, stone paths, shrines and grass mounds guarded by stone officials and animals, and they are part of the World Heritage listing of the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty.
Read the complete Pajusamreung Cluster write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Pajusamreung Cluster is where the day begins. Next is Jangneung Cluster.
2. Jangneung Cluster
The Joseon dynasty ruled Korea for over five hundred years, and its kings and queens were buried in carefully chosen spots around the capital, in tombs designed according to Confucian ritual and the principles of geomancy, with a hill behind, water in front and mountains framing the view. In 2009, forty of these tombs were listed by UNESCO as the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty. Jangneung, in Gimpo, just west of Seoul, is the tomb of Wonjong, the father of King Injo, who was elevated to royal rank after his death. It is a quiet, wooded place, with a grassy burial mound, stone statues of officials and animals, and a T-shaped shrine where ancestral rites were held.
Read the complete Jangneung Cluster write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Jangneung Cluster comes up about 31 km into the recorded legs. Next is Olleung Cluster.
3. Olleung Cluster
Seoul's royal tombs are not all in the city centre, and the ones on this stretch lie in the green country just to the north-west, in a belt of forest, farmland and expanding suburbs that stretches towards the border. The cluster on our list is one of several groups of Joseon dynasty burial mounds, and the nearest sizeable town is Uijeongbu, nearly half a million people, with Goyang just beyond it.
Read the complete Olleung Cluster write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
about 67 km into the recorded legs you reach Olleung Cluster. Next is Donggureung Cluster.
4. Donggureung Cluster
Nine kings and ten queens of the Joseon dynasty lie at Donggureung, in the city of Guri, just north-east of Seoul. The name means the Eastern Nine Tombs, and it is the largest royal burial ground of the dynasty, which ruled Korea for over five centuries from 1392 to 1910. The tombs are spread across a wooded hillside, each a grassy mound surrounded by stone figures of officials and animals, set according to the rules of geomancy with a mountain behind and water in front.
Read the complete Donggureung Cluster write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Donggureung Cluster, about halfway. Next is back through Olleung Cluster.
5. back through Olleung Cluster
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Olleung Cluster write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Olleung Cluster sits at 111 km, about halfway. Next is back through Jangneung Cluster.
6. back through Jangneung Cluster
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Jangneung Cluster write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Jangneung Cluster comes up about 156 km into the recorded legs. Next is Pajusamreung Cluster.
7. Pajusamreung Cluster
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Pajusamreung Cluster write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Pajusamreung Cluster closes the day.
Leg by leg
Pajusamreung Cluster to Jangneung Cluster
Pajusamreung Cluster → Jangneung Cluster is 31 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Jangneung Cluster to Olleung Cluster
Jangneung Cluster → Olleung Cluster is 36 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Olleung Cluster to Donggureung Cluster
Olleung Cluster → Donggureung Cluster is 27 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Donggureung Cluster to back through Olleung Cluster
Donggureung Cluster → back through Olleung Cluster is 26 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Olleung Cluster to back through Jangneung Cluster
back through Olleung Cluster → back through Jangneung Cluster is 36 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Jangneung Cluster to Pajusamreung Cluster
back through Jangneung Cluster → Pajusamreung Cluster is 27 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.