Culture of Phnom Penh. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Phnom Penh is a trove of unique historical attractions with their fascinating history. The must-see of all sightseeing tours is The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, one of the most symbolic museums in the capital. It was founded at the place of the old Chinese cemetery and is dedicated to one of the crucial time in the city history, the fight against the Khmer Rouge. They had ravaged the city and destroyed its residents for four years. In 1979, when the scientists were exploring Phnom Penh, they found the ruins of the old cemetery and remains of hundreds of people buried here. Exactly they are main exhibits of the museum and remind the visitors of the difficult times of terror the city underwent. During the sightseeing tour, the visitors of the museum can watch an interesting documentary and see the collection of old pictures.

As for other museums, the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum should be noted. It is located in the building of the prison called Tuol Sleng . Before the Khmer came to the city, the building had been a location of school, which classrooms and halls were reconstructed into prison cells. Only 8 prisoners got out of prison alive and more than 14 000 people died here.

Not all attractions of Phnom Penh are shadowed by the tragic past. The city has preserved a lot of beautiful architectural monuments. They include The Royal Palace built in 1866. It has been the existing King’s residence for over a century and a half. The palace was extensively reconstructed in 1913. Some halls of the palace are open to the public. Everyone can walk along the throne room, drop in the pavilion with a luxurious interior, admire the pristine view of the Silver Pagoda and relax in the Royal Garden. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The National Museum of Cambodia is a unique cultural center of global significance. It is located in a very spectacular building in national style. The museum presents the richest collection dedicated to the Khmer culture in the world. It counts up to 14 000 exhibits: a great number of old sculptures and paintings, bronze and ceramic items, hand-made articles and ethnographic finds. The museum includes an attractive patio with the garden where you can relax and admire exotic plants.

Perhaps, the most symbolic and touching attraction of Phnom Penh is the temple of Wat Phnom. It is located on the hilltop and surrounded by the incredibly enchanting park area. It is possible to see the temple from different districts of the capital. Despite the fact that it is quite difficult to call the temple prominent in terms of architecture, it has an immense historical value. The development of the city had started exactly from its establishment. For local residents, this is still the most important and most revered historical site.

The temple of Wat Botum Vathey seems more interesting from the architectural point of view. The first temple at its place was built in 1442 and was initially called Wat Tayawng. It got its modern name later, in 1860, when it was rebuilt on a new place. The Temple of the Blooming Lotus is one of the most spectacular architectural monuments in the city. There are urns with the ashes of preeminent political and public figures of the city. The temple is located in the vicinity of the Wat Botum Park. A stroll here will bring a lot of impressions.