Govenor’s Residence Battambang

Also known as the former Battambang Provincial Hall and Royal Residence, it was built during the era of Thai occupation and originally designed by an Italian architect in 1905 and later taken over by the French before it was opened, in 1907. It is very similar to the Chao Phya Abhaibhubejhr Building in Mueang Prachin Buri, Prachin Buri, Thailand. The French would use it as the provincial hall and governor’s residence during the colonial era and later as a school. It would later serve as the provincial hall for Battambang until 2005.

The building now operates as a heritage museum with collections and displays spread across several rooms and its two floors. It’s a great opportunity to get an insight into Khmer culture, and on the first floor, there is a large collection of musical instruments, old military swords and crossbows, and upstairs, traditional Khmer dresses, a display of the different styles of traditional Khmer wooden house styles and even a statue of the old governor of the era.

The cannons seen out front reportedly originate from Wat Kdol Don Teav while other reports also note cannons existing around another fortress of earlier times, right at this location and known as Kampheang, which enclosed Wat Kampheang and the Governor’s Residence.

There is a small entry fee with tickets sold at the entry gate.

Rodney Charles LHuillier

Living in Asia for over a decade and now residing in beautiful Siem Reap. Rodney Charles L'Huillier has spent over seven years in Cambodia and is the author of Ancient Cambodia (2024) and Essential Siem Reap (2017, 2019). Contact via [email protected] - more..