Damyang’s Meta Provence
South Jeolla’s Hidden Gem
Written by Katy Clements.
When I first planned to move abroad to Korea, I had hopes of sightseeing all over the peninsula. However, after taking my first job at an intense kindergarten hagwon, I spent a lot of my vacation time asleep or taking care of extra schoolwork. Last summer, my closest friend from America made plans to visit me over the Chuseok holiday, and I quickly compiled a list of places to take her to. Since I still was obligated to work while my friend was visiting, I needed to find tourist attractions in South Jeolla Province, specifically close to Mokpo. Of course, one of my first selections was the bamboo forest in Damyang. Most of us know all about the epic, sprawling beauty of this attraction. However, not too many people are aware that in Damyang there is a picturesque French area known as the Meta Provence.
It has occurred to me recently that Korea seems to be enthralled by the French lifestyle. In every city, there are dozens of Paris Baguettes and Tous Le Jours. In bookstores and stationery stores, you can always find notebooks or pencil cases that depict the Little Prince of storybook fame. I have heard that Seoul has a small village called Petite France, and I always dreamed of visiting it, but I was so amazed that South Jeolla had such a gem! The pictures of the Provence were so quaint and elegant that my curiosity was sparked, and I knew my friend had to experience this place. On the day that I visited, my friend and I traveled from Incheon to Gwangju via bus. From there, we stowed her luggage in a locker and boarded bus number 10 to the Damyang bamboo forest. After we finished visiting the forest (it was sweltering!), we traveled down what is known as the Metasequoia Path.
The Metasequoia Path is usually peaceful and picturesque to walk down, but at the precise time that we were there, it was a little unkempt and lonely. Perhaps it was because of the holiday, but the walk to the Provence was something I had been looking forward to. After about half an hour, we reached the intersection and crossed to reach the entrance to the Meta Provence. Since it was later in the evening and the sun had begun to set, the Provence was lit up brightly and you could hear soft instrumental music. As soon as I set my eyes on the Provence, I knew that the trip had been successful. At the time, there had been some construction going on in the west area of the Provence, but now I know it was because they were expanding its Insect Zoo. To the left of the construction area, was a brand-new pension area that had been registered in June 2019. According to the website, there are four pensions to choose from. One building, called Mansion de Provence is a pool villa and has rooms available in four different styles! However, on the cheapest night you would be paying at least 250,000 won per night! However, I honestly think that a night in the beautiful Provence is worth it.
Next, I walked to the cafe complex. Around the shops, my friend and I saw adorable life-sized macaron statues, beautiful art replicas, and a fountain that had a unique Phantom-of-the-Opera-type mask statue. Nearby, there was a quaint, little red phone booth that was perfect for a photo op! It is easy to see how anyone who goes there could spend an entire afternoon! The cafes were all very cozy as well. In one cafe, we bought an ice cream cone and browsed in the windows of the other cafes. Most cafes had quaint dolls and pillows for decoration. Even though most of the decor was not in the French style, it was different and warm. Most crafts looked handmade and all of the baristas were warm and friendly. The buildings all around us were pastel and old-fashioned looking. At the time that I was there, you could enter most of the buildings. According to the website, in August, an outlet area would open! This gives me more than enough reason to go back.
I highly recommend the Meta Provence to anyone in South Jeolla looking for a nearby day trip. I was thoroughly amused by how much effort the city put into constructing such a beautiful place. Now that I have seen the pictures of the pension rooms, I want to spend time there with my friends by the pool with a drink! I want to encourage readers to seek this place out and bring their friends. I would love it if the Provence received more attention and funding. Combined with the bamboo forest, Damyang provides a hidden relaxation destination!
Photographs courtesy of Katy Clements.
The Author
Katy lives in Mokpo with her husband. She works at an academy and is from the U.S. In her spare time, she enjoys writing, reading, and nature.