Petite France Gapyeong: A French Village on a Korean Lake
Petite France in Gapyeong is a French-themed cultural village built on a hillside above the Cheongpyeong Lake, famous for its colourful architecture, Little Prince exhibitions, and dramatic setting on the North Han River reservoir popular with K-drama film crews.
Photo: Wikipedia Commons
What Is Petite France?
Petite France (쁘띠프랑스) is a themed cultural village in Cheongpyeong, Gapyeong County, Gyeonggi Province, occupying a steep hillside overlooking the Cheongpyeong Lake — a reservoir on the North Han River. The village consists of around 20 brightly coloured buildings in a pastiche of southern French architectural styles: pastel facades, terracotta roofs, wrought-iron balconies, and winding cobblestone lanes. The centrepiece is an extensive exhibition dedicated to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's novella The Little Prince, including original manuscripts, illustrations, and life-size character installations.
History & Significance
Petite France opened in 2008 as a French cultural attraction and language education centre, incorporating a French language school and a performing arts residency programme. It gained national fame almost immediately when it was used as a filming location for the Korean drama "My Love from the Star" (별에서 온 그대) in 2013-2014, which became a major international hit across East Asia. Subsequent K-dramas including "Secret Garden" and film productions have returned to use the village's photogenic architecture, cementing its status as a pilgrimage site for Korean drama fans. The Little Prince theme was chosen to reflect French cultural heritage and has given the village a cohesive identity that resonates with Korean and Chinese visitors equally.
What to See & Do
Beyond the architecture, Petite France hosts regular live performances of French marionette puppetry (a French circus arts tradition), musical performances in the open-air amphitheatre, and art exhibitions in the gallery spaces. The lake views from the upper terrace are exceptional, particularly at dusk. A small French bakery serves croissants and eclairs. The village is best visited as part of a day tour combining Nami Island — located 15 minutes away by ferry.
Visitor Tips
Arrive before 10 AM to avoid tour groups, which typically arrive between 10 AM and noon. The village is accessible by shuttle bus from Gapyeong Train Station, 20 minutes away. The Italy-themed Garden of Morning Calm is a further 20 minutes by road and combines well with a Petite France visit.
Tips
- 💡Combine with Nami Island on the same day — ferries cross the lake every 30 minutes.
- 💡The upper terrace lake view is best photographed in the late afternoon golden hour.
- 💡K-drama filming location maps are available at the ticket booth for fans tracing scene locations.
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