Beyond Seoul: Being Inspired at Petite France

"It would be very useful to them if they were to travel some day. Sometimes there's no harm in putting off a piece of work until another day."

This is probably one of the most inspiring lines found in the classic book, "Le Petite Prince"  or "The Little Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. And it rings particularly true for those of us who are caught in an endlessly busy work life. Work will be there but time is fleeting. This line inspires us to go take a vacation, to give ourselves a chance to experience the wonderful things the world has to offer, and that we will never regret it. 

Petite France is a place that will surely remind people of such inspiring words by the author. It is a small theme park that centers on the concept of a hillside French village and the book "Le Petite Prince", thus the name Petite France. 

A statue of the Little Prince make a picture perfect spot in Petite France 

Located along the lakeside road of Cheongpyeong Lake, Petite France opened its doors in 2008 and is the only French theme park in South Korea. It has more than 30 attractions and exhibits inspired by the French culture and the tale of the young prince. There is a memorial hall dedicated to Saint-Exupery, the author of Little Prince; a gallery displaying sculptures and paintings of the Gallic rooster; a 200-year old traditional French house brought from France and reassembled in the park; a collection of orgels or music boxes from all over Europe; an antique flea market; a theatre where classic stories are reproduced as puppet plays; marionette dance performances; and many other sites where the French culture can be experienced.

The Antiques Flea Market "Antika"

The Exhibition of Antique Porcelain

An antique porcelain collection

Beautiful stained glass wind chimes

The Mont Blanc Express

A diorama of a rural French village passed by the Mont Blanc Express

Collection of toy cars inside Mont Blanc Express

Apart from the park being a destination for many of the little prince's fans, Petite France also widely appeals to many dedicated K-Drama fans as it was the filming location of several hit TV shows. My Love from the Star, Secret Garden, Beethoven Virus, and Running Man are some of the programs that have made the park so popular today. 

Outside the Antique Orgel and Maison d'Orgel galleries

The Gallery Cote d'Azur

The Theatre de L'etoile

The Etoile Park

At the Petite Photo Zone be the character in your favorite fairy tale

Maestro Gang Cafe

The beautiful landscape and panoramic view of Petite France

The walkway to the Butterfly Park

Outside the Maison de Jean and the Traditional French House

Saint Exupery Memorial Hall

The Amphitheater where the Marionette Dance Performances are held

The Eiffel Tower replica outside Petite Event Hall

Petite France is open all year round from 9:00AM to 6:00PM. Last admission is 1 hour before closing time. Entrance fees are as follows:

Guest	Entrance Fee
Adults	KRW10,000
Teens (Middle and High School)	KRW8,000
Children (3 years old and above)	KRW6,000

Petite France is located in Gapyeong County and can easily be reached from Seoul. Read How to Get to Nami Island, Petite France, and the Garden of Morning Calm to know how to commute to Gapyeong. 

For more information about Petite France, visit the official website here.

Read our other Seoul-related posts:
Beyond Seoul: Exploring Nami Island
Beyond Seoul: Visiting the Garden of Morning Calm
Experiencing Palatial Grandeur Inside Gyeongbokgung Palace
Yangban For A Day: Suiting Up A Hanbok
Seeing from Above the N Seoul Tower
Seoul: A Travel Guide for First Timers
Seoul: A Budget Travel Guide for Juans
How to Apply for a South Korea Tourist Visa for Filipinos
Waking Up to Good Things at Yellow Brick Hostel Seoul
How to Claim Shopping Tax Refund in South Korea

Have you been to Petite France? Or do you plan on including it in your visit to Seoul? Please leave your comments or questions below.