Gyeongsangnam-do(Sancheong-gun)
Namsa Yedamchon, along with Hahoe Village in Andong, is the representative ancient Hanok (Korean traditional house) village in Korea. Located at the foothills of Nigusan Mountain, tucked into a bend of the crystal clear Sasucheon Stream, the village looks like it came right out of a dream. Although no one knows the exact date the town was first founded, it is assumed that the town was created before the Goryeo Dynasty since one of the queens of the Goryeo Era was believed to have been born here.
Inside the village by the ancient house of the Ha family clan, there used to be a 670-year old apricot that was well known by nature and apricot flower enthusiasts everywhere. Unfortunately, the tree died a few years ago and a seedling from the original tree is growing in its place. Although historical records verify that the house was built in 1377, the house was burnt down during the Donghak Peasant Revolution and has since been restored.
The Ha family clan’s house, though famous, is only one of the numerous traditional houses in the village. The oldest house in the village is the ancient house of the Yi family clan that was built sometime in the 1700s. The house is famous for the 300-year-old trees that stand on the road leading up to the house. The two trees cross trunks to form the letter “X,” and are so unusual that many photographers come here just to take pictures of them.
Namsa Yedamchon in Korean means ‘lovely walls village’ in Korean and is exactly the right name for this beautiful town. Stone walls measuring 5.7km long line the road from the village’s entrance and the 3.2km-long traditional stone wall in another part of town was even designated a Cultural Heritage in 2006.
In Namsa Yedamchon Village, tourists can not only visit and stay in traditional houses, but can also participate in a variety of hands-on programs. At the end of a long day of touring visitors can even use the nearby charcoal sauna that uses charcoal made from the oak woods of Jirisan Mountain.
* Famers’ life experience – Traditional Water Mill Experience, ‘Honeybee Keeping’, ‘One-day Famers’ Life Experience
* Traditional game-playing – Samgot, Nori, and Pungmul (folk music) performances & campfire
* Educational Programs- Ancient houses, cultural heritages, Sancheong’s Eight Scenic Views, ‘Seodang (Traditional Schoolhouse) Experience’, natural dyeing with Pagoda Trees
