Jongmyo Shrine

This was my favorite of the historic sites in Seoul. You walk along paths through a wooded park to sacred buildings that date back to the 16th century, shrines that house tablets said to hold the spirits of the monarchs of the Joseon Dynasty. The ancient ritual honoring these ancestors is still performed. We weren't there to see it, but we could watch a video that showed it. The site wasn't as crowded as the palaces we visited, and the setting was peaceful and shady.