National Museum of Cambodia

The National Museum of Cambodia, situated in Phnom Penh, is the country’s premier historical and archaeological museum, as well as its largest cultural institution. Built during the French colonial period, construction began on August 15, 1917, under the design of French architect George Groslier, who incorporated elements of traditional Khmer temple architecture. The building measures 54 meters in length and 66 meters in depth, elevated on a 2.5-meter-high platform.

The museum was officially inaugurated on April 13, 1920, by King Sisowath, in the presence of Henri Baudoin, the French Resident-Superior of Cambodia. Since then, it has served as both a cultural and spiritual center for the Cambodian people.

Inside, the museum houses over 14,000 objects, making it one of the world’s greatest collections of Khmer art. The displays include sculptures, ceramics, bronzes, wood carvings, and ethnographic objects, spanning from prehistoric times through the Pre-Angkorian and Angkorian periods, and continuing into the post-Angkorian era. Highlights of the collection include important Hindu and Buddhist sculptures, such as the post-Angkorian Buddha, restored with support from UNESCO and local partners.

Beyond preservation, the museum also fulfills a religious function. In 2000, a dedicated space was opened to enhance this role, emphasizing the spiritual continuity of Cambodian art and heritage.

The museum is situated in central Phnom Penh, on Street 13, just north of the Royal Palace and west of Veal Preah Man Square. The main visitors’ entrance is at the corner of Streets 13 and 178, with the Royal University of Fine Arts located adjacent to the western side of the compound. Today, the museum operates under the authority of the Cambodian Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, serving as both a guardian of the nation’s past and a center for international research on Khmer antiquities, art, religion, and archaeology.