The Cambodian coastal town of Kampot still has a healthy dose of French colonial-era architecture. Some have been restored and turned into boutique hotels, cosy restaurants and the like while others remain in a dilapidated state of disrepair. The centre of town, just behind the modernist-looking market, is the best hunting ground if you want to see these buildings for yourself and it is worth taking a stroll both early morning and late afternoon as the light on the buildings is often different at both times of the day.

Kampot Cambodia (30)-2 (1) — *French colonial-era architecture in Kampot, Cambodia*

Kampot Cambodia (21)-2 (1) — *French colonial-era architecture in Kampot, Cambodia*

Kampot Cambodia (9)-2 (1) — *French colonial-era architecture in Kampot, Cambodia*

Bank of Cambodia Kampot Cambodia (2)-2 (1)

Kampot Cambodia (14)-2 (1) — *French colonial-era architecture in Kampot, Cambodia*

Kampot Cambodia (18)-2 (1) — *French colonial-era architecture in Kampot, Cambodia*

Kampot Cambodia (5)-2 (1) — Above: This old cinema, which dates from the early 1950s, is of particular interest. It had clearly seen better days when we saw it, and we thought to ourselves it would make a great boutique hotel. Well, since this photo was taken, that’s exactly what’s happened to it and Emily from Wander-Lust recently stayed there and wrote a nice piece about it. The property is aptly named Hotel Old Cinema. Take a look at Emily’s post and compare the facade with our (non-renovated) shot above. We think the owners have done a super job, as has Emily in the way she has captured it.

Wandering around this sleepy Cambodian riverine town, it’s hard to believe that until the 1950s and the development of Sihanoukville as a deep-sea harbour, Kampot was Cambodia’s main port. There is still fishing and a lovely thing to do just before sunset is to grab yourself a takeaway beer, head down to the waterfront promenade, find a bit of wall to sit on and watch the convoy of trawlers chug along the river and out to sea for a night of fishing. I suspect that watching them return in the early morning is an equally impressive sight but we’ve never got up early enough to find out!

3 Comments

Ryan Biddulph on April 30, 2018 at 12:42 am

Pepper Mark, pepper! LOL….loved visiting the pepper plantations in Kampot. We took a little tour during our stay. We also stayed right on the riverfront so walked by a few of those buildings up top quite a few times. Kampot is like old skool Cambodia in a few ways with some convenience and modern living too. Had a blast at the place, and reading your post!

Ryan
- Kirsty on May 1, 2018 at 9:10 am
  
  Another great thing about Kampot is that the surrounding scenery is beautiful and accessible – including pepper plantations, caves, rivers, lakes… It’s a favourite spot of ours. And, yes the pepper! Kampot green pepper and squid…. Yummy! 🙂
Gerna on April 7, 2019 at 4:06 pm

Hi, If anyone has an email address or name of an architecture firm in the Kampot/ Sihanouk ville/ Ottra area I would very much appreciate. My internet searches have not delivered much results, only one big construction firm. I am qualified and looking for drafting work in the area.

French colonial-era architecture in the sleepy Cambodian riverine town of Kampot

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