Mireuksa Temple Site [UNESCO World Heritage] (익산 미륵사지 [유네스코 세계문화유산])

Mireuksa Temple Site in Iksan is the largest excavated Buddhist temple complex of the Baekje kingdom and a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Baekje Historic Areas inscription. Founded in 602 CE under King Mu, the temple originally held three pagodas and three golden halls in an unprecedented triple-axis layout — the only one of its kind known anywhere in East Asia. Today the foundation stones, the partly reconstructed western nine-story stone pagoda (the largest stone pagoda in Korea), and an outstanding museum displaying the gold reliquary excavated from the pagoda anchor the visit. The reliquary inscription rewrote what historians knew about Baekje queen-consort politics. Allow two hours. Pair with Wanggung-ri.