Gyeongbokgung Palace

Gyeonghoeru, a banquet pavilion on stone columns standing in an artificial lake

Built in 1395 as the main palace of the Joseon dynasty, burnt during the Japanese invasions, rebuilt in the nineteenth century, then largely demolished during the colonial period. Reconstruction has run since 1990 and continues, which makes it partly an archaeological project and partly a functioning ceremonial site.

The changing of the guard happens twice a day at the main gate, the throne hall sits on a double stone terrace, and the banquet pavilion stands on forty-eight stone columns in a rectangular lake.