12일 오전 내린 눈으로 청풍호 주변 산들이 흰 눈으로 뒤덮인 가운데 잔잔한 호수와 어울려 한 폭의 동양화를 연상하게 해 주고 있다.

The mountains surrounding Cheongpungho Lake in Jecheon, Chungcheongbuk-do Province, are covered with snow on Jan. 12, turning the lakeside landscape into a painting.

Dishes made with fresh vegetable from the clean environment, crystal-clear waters and a breath of fresh air.

These are some of the most important elements for all living creatures on Earth, of course, for us.

There are only two areas in Korea that don’t lack any of these elements: Jecheon-si and Danyang-gun County, both in Chungcheongbuk-do Province. Their clean waters reflect the nearby mountainscape and the skies above. A breeze of refreshing air blows from the mountains and the lake gives our souls relief from the hustle and bustle of the big city. They offer a short getaway for comfort and peace.

Selected by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as one of the top 10 tourist destinations for people looking for peace of mind, the two locations are just a two-hour ride from Seoul.

Vacationers flock to Chungpungho Lake, an artificial lake in Jecheon, to enjoy a variety of water sports, as well as to explore ancient myths and the history hidden in each and every natural treasure here.

By Jeon Han, Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Jeon Han
hanjeon@korea.kr

12일 청풍문화재단지 한옥 마당 한 구석에 자리 잡은 장독대 위로 흰 눈이 소복이 쌓여 있다.

White snow blankets a group of traditional Korean earthen pots sitting in a traditional jangdokdae (장독대) courtyard, a common site at many of the traditional Hanok homes that can be found at the Cheongpung Cultural Heritage Complex in Jecheon, Chungcheongbuk-do Province, on Jan. 12.

 

고려 말의 학자 우탁(1263~1343)이 ‘사인재관’ 벼슬에 있을 당시 휴양했던 곳이라 해서 사인암으로 불리는 이곳은 단양군을 대표하는 관광지 가운데 하나다. 조선시대를 대표하는 화가 가운데 한 명인 김홍도도 사인암을 그린 사인암도를 남겼다

The Sainam Cliff (사인암, 舍人岩), a tourist spot in Danyang-gun County, Chungcheongbuk-do Province, is where Utak (우탁, 禹倬) (1263-1343), a late-Goryeo scholar, vacationed when he took up a public position, and it’s known as the Sainjaegwan (사인재관, 舍人在官). Joseon-era artist Kim Hong-do, too, is known to have painted one of his masterpieces, ‘Sainamdo’ (사인암도, 舍人岩圖), here.

 

한국에서 가장 오래된 인공호수이자 제천시를 대표하는 관광지 가운데 하나인 의림지에 자리잡은 푸른 소나무에 눈꽃이 피어있다. 제천시가 위치한 충청도 지방에 대한 별칭인 호서라는 말이 의림지 서쪽에 위치해 있다고 해서 붙여질 만큼 의림지는 오랜 역사를 자랑한다.

The Uirimji (의림지, 義林池) in Jecheon, Chungcheongbuk-do Province is one of the oldest reservoirs in Korea, and, also, one of the city’s busiest tourist sites. On Jan. 12, near the reservoir are green pine trees capped with white snow. This site has a long history, as can be seen in the way that another name of Chungcheong-do Province is Hoseo, which means, ‘the province located to the west of Uirimji.’

 

멀리 단양을 대표하는 관광지 도담삼봉과 도담삼봉 전망대가 보인다. 남한강 상류 한 가운데 자리잡은 도담삼봉은 태조 이성계를 도와 조선을 건국한 삼봉 정도전의 어린시절 설화를 품고 있다.

The Dodamsangbong Peaks (도담상봉, 嶋潭三峰), three rocky points that jut out of the water, and the Dodamsangbong Observatory unfold ahead in Danyang-gun County, Chungcheongbuk-do Province. The three outcrops, standing in the middle of the upper reaches of the Namhangang River, are intimately involved with the stories involving Jeong Do-jeon (정도전, 鄭道傳) (1342-1398), who helped Yi Seong-gye, later King Taejo, (이성계, 李成桂) (1335-1408), found Joseon.

대한불교 천태종의 총 본산 구인사 대조사전에서 바라본 경내 모습. 소백산 연화봉 아래 자리 잡은 구인사는 현대적인 콘크리트 건물과 함께 전형적인 과거 사찰의 모습이 함께하는 이색적인 모습으로 신자가 아닌 사람들도 많이 찾는 단양의 관광지 가운데 하나다.

From Guinsa Temple, the headquarters of the Cheontae Order of Korean Buddhism, unfolds a landscape across Danyang-gun County, Chungcheongbuk-do Province. The temple, located on the slopes of the Yeonhwabong Peak of Sobaeksan Mountain, welcomes not only Buddhists, but also non-religious visitors who are lulled into its traditional and, also, modern buildings.

제천시의 한 음식점에서 만난 밤 요리 모습이다. 깨끗한 자연 환경을 대변하듯 약초가 특산품인 제천에서는 자연 그대로의 음식을 어렵지 않게 맛 볼 수 있다.

Restaurants in Jecheon-si, Chungcheongbuk-do Province, serve chestnuts that are still aflame. The city is famous for fresh herbs that are used in many Jecheon dishes.