Forbidden Purple City Huế

The palace of the Emperor was located within the walls of the citadel along the east side nearest the river. A second, smaller set of walls and moat defined the area of the "Purple Forbidden City," where the Emperor built a network of palaces, gates, and courtyards that served as his home and the administrative core of the Empire. The construction thus came to be known as Cung Thanh (City of Residences). The name Forbidden Purple City was adopted later during the reign of Emperor Minh Mang.