Focus on heritage: The Embassy of France, a showcase of history and biodiversity, an eagerly awaited event in the heart of Phnom Penh

On Saturday 4 October 2025, the French Embassy in Cambodia will once again be opening its doors for Heritage Day, after attracting more than 7,500 visitors last year.

This now unmissable event invites young and old alike to explore not only its buildings steeped in history, but also its parkland, one of the largest green spaces in the capital, covering almost five hectares right in the centre of the city. Proud of its ecological wealth, this haven is home to more than two hundred trees of fifty different species, as well as a remarkable abundance of wildlife, recently highlighted in an unprecedented scientific inventory, the fruit of collaboration between the Embassy and various local and international partners.

Architectural and memorial heritage

The tour offers a unique insight into Phnom Penh's Franco-Cambodian architectural heritage. The buildings of the Embassy bear witness to colonial history, but also to the major changes in Khmer urban planning. Here, collective memory takes shape through the exhibition of the old gate that has been preserved since the fall of Phnom Penh in 1975, recalling the key moments in the country's history and the role played by France.

More broadly speaking, Phnom Penh has a rich architectural heritage, a blend of French colonial style and bold Khmer modernism, as documented by international experts and local researchers. The preservation of these buildings, which are sometimes threatened by land pressure, has become a major challenge for the conservation of urban heritage.

Biodiversity, the jewel in the crown of our living heritage

In addition to its stonework, the Embassy has a special role to play in protecting biodiversity on its site. A zoological census conducted between 2022 and 2025 will reveal more than 250 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects, collected in a bilingual brochure entitled ‘Flâneries zoologiques’.

This initiative complements the botanical inventory carried out in 2019, which recorded more than 200 plant species on this exceptional site. Through these actions, the Embassy is establishing itself as a showcase for Franco-Cambodian commitment to the environment and the preservation of living things. The French Development Agency (AFD) is also reinforcing this approach at national level by supporting a number of conservation programmes in Cambodia.

An international movement to promote heritage

Created in 1984, Heritage Day is now an international event. Fifty countries take part, giving the public the chance to visit places that are usually closed to the public.

In 2025, the theme will focus on architectural heritage and sustainability, highlighting the extent to which the transmission of heritage is now seen as a social issue, combining history, ecology and active citizenship.

The event organised by the French Embassy is fully in line with this worldwide movement, while at the same time standing out for the immersive experience offered to visitors to Phnom Penh: between memory, botany and zoology, the public can experience a ‘living heritage’.

Practical information and opening to the public

Admission on Heritage Day is free, with no registration required, but the large number of visitors testifies to the growing interest in heritage issues. In the event of bad weather, opening times may be adjusted to ensure public safety.