The most beautiful temples of Angkor jewels classified by Unesco

Spread over a total area of 400 square kilometers, between small sleepy villages, green rice fields, and humid forests, the temples of Angkor, all different, are the vestiges of the dazzling Khmer empire, which imposed its power, art, and architecture in Southeast Asia from the 9th to the 15th century. Discover the most beautiful temples of the Angkor Archaeological Park, registered as a world heritage site by Unesco.

Angkor Wat, the "Khmer Versailles"

Angkor Wat is the most famous monument of Cambodia, it also appears on the Cambodian national flag. Built during the reign of Suryavarman II, Angkor Wat was originally a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu and then became a Buddhist temple in the 16th century. Archaeologists and researchers suggest that an army of 300,000 workers and 6,000 elephants participated in its construction. Angkor Wat is the best preserved of the many temples in the archaeological park, and it is also the most imposing and majestic of all.

Built to represent Mount Meru, the home of the gods in Hindu mythology, Angkor Wat is the archetype of the classical style of Khmer architecture. The most spectacular of the mountain temples, surrounded by a square belt of moats symbolizing the oceans, is distinguished by the beauty, harmony of its proportions, its extraordinary bas-reliefs and its captivating Apsaras. Despite the crowds, the sunrise over Angkor Wat remains a grandiose spectacle and an unforgettable travel memory.

Angkor Thom, the majestic royal city

This royal city built by Jayavarman VII, at the end of the 12th century and the beginning of the 13th century, is a fabulous witness to the grandeur of Khmer architecture. Once you have crossed the 3-kilometers-by-3 and 8-meter-high surrounding wall and one of the five large entrance gates topped with four giant faces, you will discover the remains of the largest city of the Middle Ages which had a population of nearly a million inhabitants at its peak! Inside the enclosure, you can admire:

- The Bayon temple, it is one of the most beautiful temples of Angkor with more than 200 mysterious smiling faces that can be found on each of the 37 well-preserved towers, a symbol of the splendor of Angkor.

- The pyramidal Hindu temple of Phiméanakas, this was built at the beginning of the 11th century in laterite blocks, soberly decorated with lions and elephants at each corner.

- The Baphuon temple, it is an immense mountain temple containing a gigantic reclining Buddha and bas-reliefs telling the Ramayana.

- The Elephant Terrace, this is a superb royal ceremonial terrace.

- The Leper King terrace, it's is decorated with highly ornate bas-reliefs representing the Hindu pantheon.

Preah Khan and its monastic architecture

This vast Buddhist monastic complex built around 1191 by the Khmer king Jayavarman VII housed 10,000 monks, teachers, disciples and servants within its walls. While Ta Prohm is dedicated to the monarch's mother, this one is dedicated to his father. The great builder king resided in Preah Khan while waiting for the construction of Angkor Thom, his masterpiece, to be completed. Preah Khan bears witness to the organization of a small city that included a university and is considered a remarkable example of "monastic complex" style architecture.

Ta Prohm, a real movie set

Colonized by cheese trees and ficus trees whose roots entwine and sublimate the stone, Ta Prohm Temple is one of the most photogenic temples of Angkor and has served as a natural setting for many films. Left in its natural state, you can feel what the first explorers of Angkor experienced when they discovered the ancient city. The temple once housed a sanctuary as well as a Buddhist monastery and university where more than 12,500 people lived, including priests and more than 600 dancers.

Roluos Group, Remains of Ancient Hariharalaya

Roluos is the site of an ancient center of Khmer civilization known as Hariharalaya, the first capital of the Khmer Empire during the Angkorian era. Roluos is a group of three pre-Angkorian temples dating from the late 9th century. Thetemples of Roluos are distinguished by tall, square brick towers placed on plinths.

Banteay Srei Temple, the Citadel of Women

Banteay Srey is one of the best-preserved temples and a magnificent jewel of pink sandstone chiseled with extreme finesse. The exceptional quality of its decoration and sculptures has made this temple one of the most beautiful in the Angkor archaeological site. In 1923, André Malraux and his wife Clara tried to steal bas-reliefs and other elements of the still little-known site.

Pré Rup, a superb spot for sunset

The superb temple-mountain dedicated to Shiva was built in the middle of the 10th century on a rectangular platform with five staggered towers. Pré Rup is distinguished by an imposing brick pyramid, on several levels, from the same period as the Mebon. At the top of the pyramid, you can enjoy a very pretty sunset. Pré Rup served as a setting for Jean Jacques Annaud's film "Deux Frères".

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