Dangjin Is the Perfect Fall Travel Destination... Bugnae Pilgrimage Trail Tops Walking Tour Spots

The Closest Place to the Metropolitan Area to Experience Vast Plains, Sea, Mountains, and Forests

The golden waves sing at Dangjin Sinri Holy Site, the "Inland Jeju Island." /Dangjin City

Located in the northwestern region of Chungnam, Dangjin is the closest place to the Seoul metropolitan area where you can escape the city and experience vast plains, the sea, mountains, and forests in a natural environment.

Especially in autumn, Dangjin is famous as the home of Haenaru rice, renowned for its exceptional taste, and you can fully enjoy the autumn atmosphere with its golden fields and expansive plains.

In addition, Dangjin is home to many Catholic cultural heritage sites, known as the cradle and nursery of Korean Catholicism. The Catholic pilgrimage sites, connected by pilgrimage routes, put on new colors as autumn arrives.

Everywhere you step, autumn settles in, and if you look back, you can feel autumn following your footsteps along the Bugnae Pilgrimage Trail in Dangjin, where you can truly experience the essence of autumn.

◇ Sinri Shrine, the 'Jeju Island of the Inland' Where Golden Waves Sing

Sinri Shrine, imbued with the spirit of Bishop Saint Daveluy, is located in Sinri, Hapdeok-eup, one of the early centers of Korean Catholicism. Originally, this place was where the early Naepo Church community was established and is called the 'Catacombs of Joseon.'

In particular, Bishop Saint Daveluy, the fifth bishop of Joseon, stayed here for 21 years, investigating and recording the deeds of bishops, priests, and believers who were martyred during the Sinyu, Gihae, and Byeongo persecutions, and wrote early catechisms in Hangul, including the 'Memoirs of Joseon Martyrs.'

The Martyrs' Art Museum, which opened in 2017, exhibits 13 martyrdom record paintings and portraits of five saints donated by artist Illang Lee Jongsang, who painted the portraits of Yulgok Yi I and Shin Saimdang featured on the 5,000 and 50,000 won bills, creating a sacred atmosphere.

The true charm of Sinri Shrine lies in healing and emotion. From the observatory at the Martyrs' Art Museum, you can see lush green fields in summer and golden waves in autumn.

With the peace and serene atmosphere of the shrine and the wide-open landscape before your eyes, you will have a special experience where all your worries are healed.

◇ 'Hot Place' on SNS: Hapdeok Catholic Church

Hapdeok Catholic Church began as Yangchon Community in 1890, moved to its current location in 1899, and was built in 1929 as the first parish in Chungcheong-do. It has been recognized for its historical and architectural value and designated as a Chungcheongnam-do Monument.

Located on a low hill, Hapdeok Catholic Church is a rare brick-and-wood church in Korea, characterized by its twin bell towers at the front.

SNS Hot Place 'Seongji' Dangjin Hapdeok Catholic Church. /Dangjin City

Hapdeok Catholic Church is widely known on social media for its beautiful exterior and Gothic architectural features, making it a hot spot for the MZ generation.

Especially, together with Amimi Art Museum in Sunseong-myeon, it is a popular location for self-wedding photoshoots, attracting newlyweds and couples, and has become a true 'pilgrimage site' on social media.

The special charm of Hapdeok Catholic Church in autumn is that you can also see Hapdeokje. Hapdeokje is one of the three major reservoirs from the Joseon Dynasty and is listed as a World Heritage Site for irrigation facilities, making it a valuable cultural heritage.

While Hapdeokje is called Yeonho Reservoir for its spectacular lotus blooms in summer, the autumn scenery with cosmos and chrysanthemums is also very beautiful.

The 15th Dangjin Chrysanthemum Exhibition will be held at Hapdeokje from October 25 to November 3.

◇ Solmoe Shrine: Birthplace of Korea's First Priest, Father Kim Dae-geon

Solmoe Shrine is the birthplace of Father Kim Dae-geon, the first priest of Korea and a UNESCO World Historic Figure in 2021.

For this reason, Solmoe Shrine is called the 'nursery and cradle of Korean Catholicism.' As the name suggests, Solmoe Shrine is surrounded by beautiful clusters of pine trees like a folding screen.

Here you will find the birthplace and statue of Father Kim Dae-geon, the Solmoe Shrine History Museum, Arena Square, and the 'Catholic Complex Art Space (Memory and Hope),' built in 2021 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Father Kim Dae-geon's birth.

Notably, the 6th Asian Youth Day of the Catholic Church was held here in August 2014, and with the visit of Pope Francis, Solmoe Shrine has become a famous site for Naepo Catholicism. Last year, a statue of Father Kim Dae-geon was erected at the Vatican for the first time as an Asian, raising the international status of Solmoe Shrine as a global Catholic landmark.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis's visit to Solmoe Shrine, and a '10th Anniversary Commemoration Event' will be held at Solmoe Shrine for two days from the 19th to the 20th.

The commemorative concert will feature performances by Insooni, Flower, the Daejeon Diocese Chamber Orchestra, and the Daejeon Diocese Catholic Boys and Girls Choir, among others.

◇ Feel Autumn with Your Own Feet: Bugnae Pilgrimage Trail

The Bugnae Pilgrimage Trail connects the Catholic holy sites of Dangjin. The trail follows the waterway that flows through Hapdeok-eup and into Sapgyocheon, and its name comes from Bugnae, the old name for the Hapdeok marketplace.

The Bugnae Pilgrimage Trail, which received the Asian Townscape Award in 2016 and was selected as the Korea Tourism Organization's Recommended Trail of the Month in May 2018, is a 13.3km flat course that passes through Solmoe Shrine, Hapdeok Catholic Church, Sinri Shrine, Hapdeokje, as well as Hapdeok Traditional Market, Won Market, Wonsibo Well, and the graves of unknown martyrs.

The areas of Ugam-myeon and Hapdeok-eup, which the trail passes through, are among Korea's representative granaries, and in the harvest season of autumn, you can walk across endless golden plains that stretch as far as the eye can see.

Escape the repetitive routine and the noisy city buildings to find healing from nature, spiritual comfort from religion, and the abundance and peace of autumn on the Bugnae Trail.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.