Autumn Pilgrimage: Discovering the Sacred Sites of Dangjin

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Autumn, the perfect season for travel! The fleeting nature of autumn makes our hearts race to experience it all. Luckily, I had the opportunity to travel to Dangjin with the kind invitation of 6952 Travel and the city of Dangjin, taking a sea train. Our autumn journey led us to two sacred sites, ideal for a pilgrimage on a beautiful day: Sinri Sanctuary and Hapdeok Catholic Church in Dangjin.

A day at the picturesque Hapdeok Catholic Church, nestled on a small hill, resonated deeply, much like the gentle chiming of the church bells. Even for those who aren't Catholic, it's a wonderful autumn course to explore the historical footprints. Shall we embark on a day trip to these sacred sites in Dangjin?

Sinri Sanctuary

Address: 135, Pyeongya 6-ro, Hapdeok-eup, Dangjin-si, Chungcheongnam-do

Closing Time: 5 PM

The sight of the sanctuary across the vast meadow was quite impressive. While I've visited Hapdeok Catholic Church several times, this was my first time at Sinri Sanctuary. The landscape, covered in grass, brought a sense of peace just by looking at it.

There's a spacious parking lot and a separate restroom building across from it. Another restroom is located behind the sanctuary building, so there were no inconveniences. However, since the closing time is 5 PM, I recommend entering by 4:20 PM at the latest.

Sitting in the shade, I listened to the guide's explanation. This Sinri Sanctuary is one of the most representative Catholic holy sites in Korea. It's a historic site where priests and believers who played a significant role in establishing Catholicism in Korea were martyred. It's a beautiful and sacred space that includes Bishop Daveluy's retreat, the Shrine of the Saints, a Martyrs Memorial Hall, and a Martyrs Art Museum. Sinri Village was the first area to embrace Catholicism when it began to enter Korea, and it played a major role in helping Catholicism take root in the country.

The towering building on the meadow catches the eye. This is an exhibition hall, and if you go up to the rooftop, you can see the entire landscape. There's an elevator, making it easy to move up to the 3rd floor.

The surrounding scenery was beautiful, making it a great place to look around. The quiet and peaceful atmosphere made it perfect for a pilgrimage.

There are sculptures along the grassy fields, each with its own meaning, making it interesting to explore. Walking on the grass felt wonderful.

I took some photos on the lawn with the sanctuary as a backdrop. Many visitors take commemorative photos here. It was a photo zone for visitors. The breeze was quite refreshing, making it perfect for a leisurely stroll.

At the observatory, there's an iron cross. The view from the observatory was beautiful. You can take the elevator up, but please note that you have to climb the last floor by stairs.

The sky was so beautiful that day... It was as if my visit was being welcomed, even though there was a rain forecast, the sky showed such a beautiful view.

Hapdeok Catholic Church

Address: 16, Hapdeokseongdang 2-gil, Hapdeok-eup, Dangjin-si, Chungcheongnam-do

The second stop on the Dangjin pilgrimage is Hapdeok Catholic Church. Mass is still held here, and the garden is especially beautiful. The appearance of the church as you climb the stairs is as elegant as its long history.

Next to the front stairs is a large lawn. Next to it, there is a resting area, providing a place for those visiting the church to relax.

If you go further inside, past the building, there are monuments to the priests. It is said that those who visit here stop by as a must.

Next to the church is a huge tower, which was the bell tower that rang the Mass bell. I wanted to hear the bell, but I was so sad that I couldn't hear it because it wasn't time yet.

Behind the building is a statue of Father Kim Dae-geon Andrea, Korea's first priest. These days, the Korean traditional hat called 'gat' is very popular due to the K-pop Demon Hunters craze, right? The sight of the priest wearing a 'gat' was unique, so I took a commemorative photo.

There was a walking path nearby, which was great for taking a walk. It would be nice to walk along the cherry blossom tree path and the willow tree path.

There is also a museum. It was nice to stop by and visit while I was there.

There was a folk house between the museum and the church, so it was nice to look around while going back and forth. There are many things to see around, making it a great travel course.

How about spending a day taking a pilgrimage tour in Dangjin this coming autumn?

If you refer to the previous posts for places recommended as a day trip to Dangjin, you will have a richer trip.

Source :https://blog.naver.com/ekoh72/

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