Much of Battambang’s special charm lies in its early-20th-century French architecture. Some of the finest colonial buildings are along the waterfront (St 1), especially just south of Psar Nath , itself an architectural monument, albeit a modernist one. The two-storey Governor’s Residence , with its balconies and wooden shutters, is another handsome legacy of the early 1900s. Designed by an Italian architect for the last Thai governor, who departed in 1907, it has imposing balconies and a grand reception room with 5m ceilings.
The interior is closed, but you can stroll the grounds. Phnom Penh–based KA Architecture Tours has collaborated with Battambang Municipality to create two heritage walks in the historic centre of Battambang, available for free download on its website. The walks concentrate both on the French period and on the modernist architecture of the '60s. This is a great way to spend half a day exploring the city.
