Culture of Hue. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

A walk through the historical district of Hue gives a lot of unforgettable impressions - unique historic landmarks can be seen at every step here. Here are the tombs of the eight last emperors of the Nguyen dynasty. They are buried directly in the palaces that belonged to the rulers hundreds of years ago. Each such palace has its own magnificent garden. One of the most beautiful is the Mausoleum of King Minh Mang built in the first half of the 19th century. The adjoining territory of the palace is decorated with age-old pines, among which is a large bronze monument dedicated to the great ruler.

Tomb of Tự Đức (Mausoleum of King Tu Duc ) is one of the most large-scale architectural ensembles. Besides the palace itself, an ancient reading pavilion and an original chess room are perfectly preserved here. Here you can see a small stage surrounded by exotic plants where theatrical performances were held many years ago. At the top of the hill is a beautiful architectural monument of the early 20th century - the Tomb of Khải Định (Mausoleum of King Khai Dinh). The mausoleum is surrounded by a powerful fortification wall. During its construction, small pieces of glass and phosphorus were sprinkled into it. Many tourists are eager to see the building at night in order to admire the barely perceptible glow of the walling.

The most significant attraction of Hue is The Royal Palace. Currently, several of its luxurious halls are open to the public. In this particular palace, solemn ceremonies of the new ruler's ascension to the throne took place. Fans of excursions have a chance to visit a privy council hall and a royal living room, as well as several temples located on the palace grounds. Here you can also find the so-called Purple Forbidden City, the former royal family's residence. In many rooms, the original situation and atmosphere were restored. Visitors to the architectural complex will be invited to a chic queen's room and equally chic rooms where royal concubines lived. One of the most interesting locations is a royal kitchen. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Outside the Royal Palace there are also many interesting sites to explore, including the Pagoda of the Celestial Lady (Thien Mu Pagoda). There is a beautiful legend about its foundation, according to which, at the late 15th century, on the bank of the Perfume River, a woman appeared to local residents and pointed to a place that, in her words, was sacred. Soon the construction of the pagoda began on this place, which has remained in its original form since the beginning of the 17th century. Some of Hue's attractions are very unusual, and it would be difficult to find similar ones in other cities. One of such historic sites is Tiger Fighting Arena. This kind of entertainment was extremely popular among the royal nobility. In addition to tigers, elephants also fought in the arena. The last battle in the Hue arena took place in 1904.

Other remarkable architectural sites include the Noon Gate (Southern Gate Ngomon). It is the main of the citadel's four gates that is open exclusively on solemn days. An immutable symbol of Hue - the beautiful Perfume River - also deserves the attention of travelers. Everyone can take a fascinating boat ride to appreciate the marvelous scenery of these places. On both banks of the river there are dense forests with an abundance of beautiful trees and fragrant flowers. The miniature town of Hue, whose territory is very convenient to explore on foot, is a fount of unique historical sites and natural attractions.