UNESCO Documents

On 9th December 1995 Luang Prabang was inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Luang Prabang is an outstanding example of the fusion of traditional architecture and Lao urban structures with those built by the European colonial authorities in the 19th and 20th centuries. Its unique, remarkably well-preserved townscape illustrates a key stage in the blending of these two distinct cultural traditions. [https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/479/]

UNESCO seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage. UNESCO helps States Parties safeguard World Heritage properties by providing technical assistance and professional training ..... [and] encourage[s] the participation of the local population in the preservation of their cultural and natural heritage. [https://whc.unesco.org/en/about/]

The architecture of Luang Prabang is a unique blend of traditional Lao and Colonial French styles which has survived unspoilt to the present day. Being a religious centre for hundreds of years the town itself is in fact a myriad of communities or Ban, each centred around one of the numerous temples, many dating from the 18th century. Traditional wooden Lao houses unchanged in style for centuries are still in use. In the early 20th century Chinese influenced villas began to be built and from the 1920's French colonial style houses became predominant. By the late 1950's modernist styles using concrete construction were popular. But war and economic hardship put further change on hold for three decades, contributing to the preservation of the town's unique architectural heritage.

The 1995 UNESCO World Heritage Committee inscription of Luang Prabang on display in the National Museum

In Luang Prabang UNESCO identified 611 civilian and religious buildings that contributed significantly to the cultural heritage of the town and which should be preserved. These can be located and identified on the interactive heritage map. The number referenced for each building in the map corresponds to the Inventory number in the original UNESCO documentation*.

Below are some of the documents that were submitted for the initial declaration of Luang Prabang's World Heritage status. In these documents you will find photographs taken around 1994 of all the protected buildings which you can compare with the modern photos on our Heritage Map. Other documents detail the construction practices of the heritage buildings and the regulations protecting the World Heritage site.

inventaire_monastaires.pdf
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