Battambang Governors Mansion Building

Address: Battambang Governor’s Mansion, Battambang city, Cambodia

Hours: Exterior always visible; interior visits vary and may require appointments

Admission: Small museum fees may apply; the Mansion exterior can be viewed from the street free

The Battambang Governor’s Mansion is a prominent colonial-era administrative residence located in Battambang city in northwestern Cambodia. It served as the official residence for provincial governors under French colonial and later administrations.

Constructed during the period of French administration in Indochina, the mansion functioned as the provincial governor’s residence and administrative centre. Over time it has retained its role as a public building and a local landmark within the city fabric.

The mansion sits in central Battambang city, which is the capital of Battambang province in northwestern Cambodia, and is within walking distance of other colonial-era buildings and the Sangker River.

Battambang is accessible by bus from Siem Reap (about 3-4 hours) and Phnom Penh (about 6-7 hours). The Governor’s Mansion is in the city center and best reached on foot from the main market area.

• Check opening times in advance-some municipal buildings have restricted visiting hours.
• The architectural style is an interesting mix of French colonial and local adaptations; look for carved wooden shutters and plaster details.
• Combine a visit with a walk through Battambang's riverside and the central market.

The Governor’s Residence was built in 1907 on the grounds of a fortress once occupied by a succession of Thai governors, who oversaw the Siamese occupation of Battambang Province from 1795 to 1907. Designed by an Italian architect for the last Thai governor, it was completed in the very year the province was formally ceded to the French.

The residence itself is not open to the public, but even those with only a casual interest in architecture can appreciate its grandeur and ornate detail through the gate that encloses the grounds. The residence sits within a Thai fortress built in 1840, which once housed an arsenal along with a stable of elephants and a retinue of over 100 apsara dancers.