Lopburi - Phaulkon's Palace

Phaulkon's Palace (Chao Phaya Vichayen) is near the river on the Wichayen Road north of Wat Sao Thong Thong. A number of buildings had been erected for Chevalier de Chaumont. Phaulkon's palace is a large three-story building in a mixture of European and Thai styles. The compound, surrounded by a 2-m (61/2-ft) high wall, also had in it a kitchen (at the back on the left), stables (right) and baths, a church with a house for the Catholic priest, with a free-standing belfry, and a single-story audience pavilion, all now in ruins. The three monumental gateways in the southern wall, which were once the entrance to the palace, have been well preserved and the central one now serves to gain admission to the very pleasant precinct.