Restoring the Thai-French era’s colonial treasures in Chanthaburi

Posted by paul on June 28th, 2009 filed in Culture & customs, The Gulf of Thailand, Travel destinations

Rarely explored by tourists, several colonial-style buildings in Chanthaburi province’s King Taksin Camp are set to have a main facelift, which will return the historic structures to their full glory. The Phra Racha Wang Derm Restoration Foundation together with the French Embassy and the Thai Fine Arts Department recently started restoring the buildings.

All seven structures were built in 1893 by French troops, when they were stationed about 155 miles from Bangkok in Chanthaburi province. They offer great insight into the French colonial influence during King Chulalongkorn’s reign. Despite its historic significance, King Taksin Camp is hardly known to the public due to the site’s restricted position inside the headquarters of the infantry regiment in the province’s Muang district.

It is under the Marine Division’s supervision that didn’t carry out decent maintenance of the colonial buildings. When the French ambassador was informed about it last year he was astonished to learn that the area houses a French military camp. The diplomat enthusiastically supported the restoration plans and offered assistance by his country.

The French embassy and the Restoration Foundation introduced fund-raising activities for the project’s support. A reception was hosted by the embassy, with sales of typical French goods, such as perfumes and wines, with the entire proceeds going to the restoration project. In addition, French businesses in Thailand were asked to co-operate as well.

Once the restorations have been completed, the camp will be accessible to the public, encouraging more research on this important historic period in which King Chulalongkorn succeeded to protect Siam from colonialism. The younger generation will be educated about this period with the help of an exhibition.

King Chulalongkorn Biography

However, humidity is a huge problem for the historical structure as moss covers big parts of the buildings and several are being destroyed by termites. It took the team eight years completing the restoration of King Taksin’s Palace in Thon Buri. Restoration activities will have to take place step by step. The final result will definitely be amazing.