The Governors Residence was designed by an Italian architect and built in 1905 when north-western Cambodia was part of Siam (Thailand). Two years later, the north-west regions were handed over to the French and Battambang Province became part of Cambodia.
The Governor’s Residence was constructed in 1905 by the last Thai Governor of Battambang, at a time when much of north-west Cambodia was under the control of neighbouring Siam (Thailand) – from 1795 until 1907. An Italian architect, Mario Tamagno, designed the Governor’s Residence not knowing that only two years later the province would be transferred to French control.
From 1907 onward the new French Colonial Governor of the province of Battambang took up residence, with the Thai Government having sold the building to the French Government as part of the deal to transfer control. Now the carefully preserved Governor’s Residence functions as a museum while a new building near by houses the present administration.
The administrative regions of Cambodia are called provinces and the city of Battambang is the capital of the Battambang province. The leaders of the provinces are called Governors. Battambang has had good Governors in the past and the city has a progressive feel about it. The Government wanted to replace a beautiful old bridge that crosses the river to Government House with a new one but the public objected. The Governor listened so they are building the new bridge beside the old.
The Adventure Bike 