Cheomseongdae Observatory
첨성대
Today
Why go
Thought to have been built in the reign of Queen Seondeok (r. 632–647), it is the oldest astronomical observatory in the East. You can see this stone tower, about 9m tall, for free.
Admission
Free
Highlights
History
Cheomseongdae Observatory (瞻星臺) was a Silla astronomical observation tower for watching the movements of the heavenly bodies. In an age when the timing of farming was set by the movements of the sky and the fortunes of the kingdom were divined from observations, astronomy was a major concern of the state from early on. Cheomseongdae is thought to have been built against this background.
An old record says that "it is built so that a person climbs up through the middle". It seems people set a ladder against the outside, went in through the window, then climbed another ladder inside to the top to watch the sky. It is presumed to have been built in the reign of Queen Seondeok, and it was designated a National Treasure in 1962.
A bottle-shaped body sits on a base that serves as its footing, topped with stones laid out like the character 井. The outer face is smoothly dressed, but inside, the backs of the stones jut out and the wall is uneven. At the top, the eastern half is closed off with a stone slab.
Getting there
경상북도 경주시 첨성로 140-25
Lot no. · 경상북도 경주시 인왕동 839-1
Where next
Photos
Tips
- It is open all year, 09:00–22:00, and until 21:00 in winter. There is no admission fee.
- By bus, take No. 10, get off at the Wolseong-dong Community Center stop and walk 5–7 minutes.
- Gyeongju City directs drivers to the roadside parking at Cheonmachong Tomb and around Gyochon Hanok Village. The Jjoksaem temporary parking lot, reached via Wonhwa-ro 181beon-gil, is free.
Show details
- Address
- 경상북도 경주시 첨성로 140-25
- Admission
- Free