Popularly spoken of as being Thailand’s most gorgeous cathedral, the Chanthaburi Cathedral was constructed in the gothic style. It was first built in the early eighteenth century by the local river’s west bank by Christians from Vietnam, but was later rebuilt in its current location over a hundred and twenty years later. In the early nineteen hundreds, the Cathedral underwent further construction and transformed into the more robust building that it is now.
Chanthaburi, where the Cathedral is located, is one of Thailand’s many provinces. It lies in the eastern part of the country, and forms a border with Thailand’s neighbouring country, Cambodia. The province of Chanthaburi is unique in that it is home to a considerable number of minority citizens in the nation. Many of them are natives of Vietnam who immigrated or fled to Thailand during different periods in history. Some came to the country during the eighteen hundreds when they were being persecuted in Cochinchina due to anti Catholic sentiments. Others resettled here during the nineteen twenties, thirties and forties from French Indochina, and yet others, migrated here from Vietnam towards the latter part of the twentieth century, in order to escape the aftermath of a communist victory in their homeland. As such, even though Thailand is predominantly a Buddhist country, Chanthaburi is one of the provinces where Catholicism also holds considerable sway.
The province of Chanthaburi is also home to a sort of mixed culture. The Thai culture here is peppered with Vietnamese influences. If you are interested in exploring this province and the Cathedral during your Thai vacation, book a few days at a Chanthaburi resort. You’ll find quite a few accommodations to choose from such as Chatrium Golf Resort Soi Dao and others, and you can shop around until you find one that suits all your requirements. In addition to visiting Chanthaburi Cathedral, you may also be interested to know that this province is one of the country’s main gemstone mining centres. Precious stones such as sapphires and rubies are mined for here. So perhaps see if you can arrange a tour to a mine while you’re here.
Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+
