A signature Phnom Penh landmark can be found on Sothearos Boulevard, very close to the riverfront. The building is in a decayed state, but fortunately it has been purchased by the FCC.

From mid-2008 works will begin to restore this beatiful rococo palace to its past glory. It will be a luxury hotel with a French bistro downstairs and a connection to the FCC complex just behind it.

The exact history of the house is unknown, but it was probably built in the 1920s. It's a typical French colonial building, but incorporates a whole combination of styles, including impressive Corinthian capitals and intricate sculptural designs.

Apart from tourist highlights like Wat Phnom and the Royal Palace, this is one of the structures most photographed by visitors to Phnom Penh. Soon it will again be a pearl in Phnom Penh's crown!

Next door to that decayed building on Sothearos is a structure that has been restored already. No wonder, because it houses the UNESCO representation in Cambodia.

But there are more preserved French colonial buildings in Phnom Penh.

A fine example is the General Post Office, pictured at the top of this page.

The post office stands in what once was the French Quarter. Other examples of colonial architecture are the National Library and of course the beautiful Raffles hotel Le Royal. Wander around this quarter and admire what the French have left.

You can also find a few colonial-era buildings along Norodom Boulevard, one of the main north-south thoroughfares in Phnom Penh, starting in the north at Wat Phnom.

Once there was a French cathedral along Monivong Boulevard, but that has been destroyed by the Khmer Rouge.

Unfortunately you can also find quite a few examples of colonial architecture that are beyond repair. Pictured above is a building on Street 108, on the corner of Norodom Boulevard.

Until 2005 the Tourist Office was housed in a French villa at the junction of Sothearos Boulevard and Sisowath Quay. The building has been destroyed to make way for serviced appartments...

But times may be changing. More and more organizations and people (including Cambodians) are concerned and want to save colonial buildings from neglect and disrepair. They realise that these structures lend charm to the city and increase its appeal for citizens and tourists alike.

Every time one of these historical buildings is torn down, Phnom Penh loses a part of its identity.

One initiative to preserve these structures is Heritage Watch, tel: +855(0)23-222743.