Battambang Heritage -- Pre-Colonial Past


	Battambang Heritage Preservation Initiative Online

For centuries Battambang Province has been be the “rice chamber” of the Khmer Empire. Still today the region is a hub for agricultural products, preserving a rural character. Long before the French introduced solid constructions and created the urban Battambang, people have lived for generations in traditional wooden houses along the banks of the Sangker River. At the outskirts of Battambang City wooden constructions still remain the typical way of housing. Some extraordinary examples are over 100 years old. From 1795 to 1907 the province was associated with the Siamese. The family of Chavfea Baen ruled for six generations. During that time Battambang was a small town with about 2500 residents. With only one road parallel to the river, people built their houses disorderly along both sides of this road. At the location of todays Psar Nath an open-air market was to be found. At that time, dominant landmarks were numerous pagodas along both river banks and a Chinese temple. A rectangular fort called “Kampheng” was built in the late 1830s, with the palace of the Lord Governor. The Mansion has been designed by Italian architects and houses the Provincial Council today.


		PRE-COLONIAL