To mark this year’s European Heritage Day on September 21, the French embassy in Phnom Penh will once again open to the public.
This will give people a rare chance to discover or rediscover the facility’s buildings, steeped in history, as well as the magnificent grounds of the embassy.
“Covering an area of 4.7 hectares, this preserved green space in Phnom Penh is home to exceptional biodiversity: 200 trees of over 50 different species and a large number of animal species, including some 30 bird species, monkeys, muntjacs and numerous insects,” explained the embassy, in a September 17 press release.
It added that the public will also be able to view the original gates of the embassy, which were the focal point of Francois Bizot’s celebrated novel The Gate, about the 1975 fall of Phnom Penh to the Khmer Rouge, almost 50 years ago.
“Last but not least, visitors will be able to see a photo exhibition on the embassy's wall on Monivong Boulevard, featuring Cambodian breakdance, as breakdance was one of the disciplines at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games,” the statement noted.
The grounds will be open from 8am to 4pm, and the embassy has arranged guides that will provide tours three times a day in French, Khmer and English. Admission is free, and there is no need to pre-register.
A statement warned that due to the expected number of visitors, queuing may be necessary, particularly in the morning. It recommended that sightseers bring water and wear suitable shoes.
Since being initiated by France in 1985, European Heritage Days are now celebrated in over 50 countries.
This year, several of the Kingdom’s other historical buildings will also be taking part, by opening their doors to the public on Saturday.
They include the Council for the Development of Cambodia, which will be taking part for the first time, as well as the UNESCO office, the Royal University of Fine Arts and the Conservation d'Angkor in Siem Reap.
Visiting schedules and conditions will be set by each individual institution.