After Martyr's Mountain, we went to the temple Hwaoemsa. Gongju and Buyeo were a part of the Baekje kingdom. This temple was originally constructed under Silla, one of the other "Three Kingdoms" who later unified (ie conquered) the others. It was built by an Indian monk in 544, but destroyed by the Japanese in 1592 and later rebuilt.
Hiking up behind the temple brings you to the the real treasures, a stone pagoda and lantern that survived the destruction.
Our next destination were the ruins of another temple, Yeongoksa. Like Hwaeomsa, it was destroyed in the Seven Year War, but the rebuilt temple was also destroyed during the Korean War. People fled to temples for refuge and they were often used as resistance base camps.
It's national treasures are stone stupas which originally contained the remains of a priest...
...and this stele, though the main body is missing (only the bottom and top remain).
On the way back, we stopped at a well-known tea shop with a wonderful view despite the weather.
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