An incredible art nouveau creation, construction of this elegant summer palace began in 1910 at the behest of Rama V (who died just after the project was started). It was designed by German architects, who used the opportunity to showcase contemporary design innovations; inside there are spacious sun-drenched rooms decorated with exquisite glazed tiles, stained glass, parquet floors and plenty of wrought-iron details.
The palace is on a military base 1km south of town; you may be required to show your passport.
While the structure is typical of Thailand in the early 20th century, a period that saw a local passion for erecting European-style buildings in an effort to keep up with the ‘modern’ architecture of Thailand's colonised neighbours, the scale of the palace is impressive. Check out the double-spiral staircase, which provides a classic debutante’s debut, and the state-of-the-art, for the time, personal bathroom of the king.
