Located in the heart of Cambodia’s second-largest city, right on the banks of the Sangker River and just a short distance from the night market, the Battambang Provincial Museum was built in 1963 at the request of Madeleine Giteau—a French historian and curator of the National Museum of Cambodia from 1956 to 1966. Its purpose was to promote the history and the tangible and intangible heritage of Battambang.
This modest building houses collections of Angkorian statues and lintels, all closely tied to the city’s history. Several artifacts originate from the famous Prasat Banon Temple, a site highly appreciated by travelers for its distinctive architecture, originality, and remote setting.
However, the story told within the museum is not confined to the region’s artistic and cultural heritage—it reaches much further back in time, even to prehistory. French archaeologists excavated the depths of Laang Spean Cave and uncovered flint tools dating back to the Neolithic period. Many of these prehistoric artifacts are now on display. Diagrams illustrate how the cave once served as a dwelling place and a burial site for the dead. The exhibition then traces the history of Battambang Province, moving through the Angkorian period with its steles, statues, and bas-reliefs, before concluding in the 19th century. Handmade ceramic pieces from that era bear witness to the region’s rich artisanal tradition.
The museum is closed on Mondays but open the rest of the week, both in the morning and afternoon.