The Little Prince and a 200-Year-Old Music Box on a Hill by Cheongpyeong Lake
Petite France is a French cultural village built on a hill in Goseong-ri overlooking Cheongpyeong Lake, at 1063 Hoban-ro, Cheongpyeong-myeon, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do. Plan a two- to three-hour route centered on the Little Prince theme, the Saint-Exupéry Memorial Hall, exhibits of traditional French houses, and music-box performances.
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A ‘Little France’ Built on an 117,357㎡ Hill Overlooking Cheongpyeong Lake
Petit France is a French cultural village established on a hill overlooking Cheongpyeong Lake in Goseong-ri, Cheongpyeong-myeon, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do. It also incorporates Goseong Youth Training Center, a youth training facility. The reported site area is approximately 117,357㎡, and the road-name address is 1063 Hoban-ro, Cheongpyeong-myeon, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do.
‘Petit France’ means ‘little France.’ Rather than presenting only a cluster of buildings, the site places the image of a French rural village within the scenery of Cheongpyeong Lake and Homyeongsan Mountain in the Bukhangang area. Materials from Gapyeong-gun also recommend an approach route extending approximately 10 km from the entrance to Cheongpyeong Dam toward Goseong-ri and Homyeong-ri.
Why Saint-Exupéry and The Little Prince Became the Village’s Centerpiece
The cultural center of the site is the French writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and his work The Little Prince. The Saint-Exupéry Memorial Hall within the complex covers the author’s life and literary world, while sculptures of the Little Prince and related exhibitions expand the French cultural village concept from simple architectural decoration into a literary theme.
The French Traditional Houses Exhibition Hall is presented as a space recreating traditional homes relocated from France, while the antiques exhibition hall displays items collected in France and Europe. According to Gapyeong-gun statistics on visitors to major tourist attractions in 2024, Petit France received 329,640 visitors, including 166,290 international visitors.
The 200-Year-Old Music Box House and Performance Times on the On-Site Information Boards
The Music Box House is an exhibition space worth scheduling separately at Petit France. Tourism materials introduce it as a place where visitors can hear the melodies of music boxes approximately 200 years old. Performance times and locations for scheduled music-box performances, puppet shows, and other events should be checked on the information boards within the complex on the day of your visit.
Therefore, it is best to check the performance schedule immediately after entering and then visit the Music Box House and Saint-Exupéry Memorial Hall first. Performances may change depending on the weather, events, and operating conditions, so visitors should plan according to the ticket office or on-site notices rather than relying solely on old schedules found online.
Entry from 09:00 to 18:00; Plan to Buy Tickets Before 17:00
According to tourism information, Petit France is open from 09:00 to 18:00, with last admission at 17:00. Although it is described as operating year-round without regular closing days, performances, activities, and facility operations may vary depending on the season and on-site conditions. It is therefore safest to reconfirm details by calling 031-584-8200 on the day of departure.
General admission has traditionally been listed as 12,000 won for adults, 10,000 won for youths, and 8,000 won for children. However, prices may vary depending on promotions and whether combination tickets are available, so check the same-day price at the official sales outlet before paying on site. The sightseeing route includes stairs and sloped sections, so allowing 2–3 hours is realistic if you want to see the exhibitions and take photographs.
Options for Reaching the Attraction by Tourist-Circulation Bus from Cheongpyeong or Gapyeong Station
If traveling by rail, official tourism information from Gapyeong-gun recommends taking the Gyeongchun Line or ITX-Cheongchun, getting off at Cheongpyeong Station or Gapyeong Station, and transferring to the Gapyeong Tourist Circulation Bus. Another option is to take a local bus bound for Goseong-ri from Cheongpyeong Bus Terminal and get off at the stop named ‘Petit France.’
By car, the recommended route from Seoul follows the Gyeongchun National Road and Hwado Interchange toward Chuncheon and Cheongpyeong, then passes Daeseong-ri and the entrance to Cheongpyeong Dam before continuing approximately 10 km toward Goseong-ri and Homyeong-ri. Parking at the complex is reported to be free, but the parking-lot entrance and pedestrian routes may be congested on weekends and public holidays. Visitors with large luggage or strollers should consider the walking distance from the entrance.
Two Visiting Conditions: No Pets and 34 Accommodation Rooms
Operating information states that pets are not permitted at Petit France or the Italian Village. If you are traveling with a pet, this is not something to resolve just before admission, so make separate arrangements for pet-friendly attractions or pet care before planning your entire Gapyeong itinerary.
The complex also offers accommodation, with 34 rooms for 4–10 people and a maximum capacity of approximately 200 guests. Conditions for same-day visitors may differ from benefits for overnight guests. If you are considering a stay, check the room location, whether breakfast is included, check-in requirements, and whether a discount is available for visiting the Italian Village together with the accommodation provider.
Why 166,290 International Visitors Came in 2024 and the Context of Its Filming Locations
Petit France is also widely known as a drama filming location. Photo information from the Korea Tourism Organization lists My Love from the Star and Secret Garden as Korean Wave drama filming locations in 2016, while a travel article from the organization introduces the site as a backdrop for My Love from the Star. Travelers hoping to recreate scenes from the dramas should prioritize the exhibitions and visitor routes currently open to the public rather than focusing on whether the exact filming spots have been preserved.
The 2024 statistics show that international visitors accounted for 166,290 of the total 329,640 visitors, indicating that the site is part of international tourism itineraries as well as domestic weekend outings. The availability of foreign-language information may vary by visit date, so if English, Chinese, or Japanese assistance is essential, it is best to inquire by phone in advance.
When Combining It with Namiseom on the Same Day, Visit the ‘Lake Hill’ First
Petit France belongs to Gapyeong’s Bukhangang and Cheongpyeong Lake tourism area and is often combined with Namiseom Island, Jara Island, and the Garden of Morning Calm in travel itineraries. However, Petit France is built on a hillside, requiring repeated movement from lower to higher areas. Creating an itinerary that completes the performance checks, indoor exhibitions, and outdoor photography in one sequence can reduce unnecessary backtracking.
Planning materials for water-based tourism in Gapyeong-gun list Jara Island, Namiseom Island, and Petit France together as major resources in the Bukhangang area. On days when you rely only on public transportation, however, the last departures and circulation-bus intervals at each attraction determine the schedule. If visiting two or more attractions on the same day, allow at least two hours for Petit France and set aside additional time for transfers and waiting.
Before You Go
- Address
- 1063 Hoban-ro, Cheongpyeong-myeon, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do
- Hours
- 09:00–18:00
- Closed
- Advertised as open year-round
- Admission
- Adults 12,000 won / Youths 10,000 won / Children 8,000 won (subject to change; checking before visiting is recommended)
- Phone
- 031-584-8200
- Official site
- https://www.petitefrance.co.kr
- Transport
- Take the Gyeongchun Line or ITX-Cheongchun to Cheongpyeong Station or Gapyeong Station, then use the Gapyeong Tourist Circulation Bus; alternatively, take a local bus bound for Goseong-ri from Cheongpyeong Bus Terminal and get off at the Petit France stop
- Parking
- Advertised as free parking
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Accessibility
- As a hillside complex, it has stairs and sloped sections. Visitors using wheelchairs or strollers are advised to inquire in advance. The availability of foreign-language assistance should also be confirmed by phone before visiting.
The information above is current as of the time of writing. Check the official information again before visiting.
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