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.
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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.
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f8-vi.pdf | |
File Size: | 1610 kb |
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Ongoing management of the World Heritage Site of Luang Prabang is the responsibility of the World Heritage Management Division (Formerly the World Heritage Office) under the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism. The latest State of Conservation Report (2024) can be found below or on the UNESCO website here.
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*Note : The inventory numbers used on this website follow those in the UNESCO Inventory documentation uploaded here dating from 2001 (As available on CD-ROM from Luang Prabang UNESCO Heritage offices). Other versions of the Inventory may have slightly different inventory and record numbers (!) For example a comparison with the Inventory published in August 2000 shows the following differences;
1. Buildings 94, 390 and 602 to 611 in 2001 version are missing from 2000 version
2. Old Royal Palace recorded as 389 in 2001 version (Civilian) is recorded as 573 in 2000 version (Religious)
3. At Vat Xieng Mene 2000 version records kutis 573 and 572, missing in 2001 version
4. At Vat Long Khoune 2000 version records kutis 579, 580, 583 and 575, missing in 2001 version
5. At Vat Hat Siew 2000 version records kuti 593 missing in 2001 version
6. At Vat Hat Siew 2000 version records kuti 601 missing in 2001 version
The above changes results in an offset of up to three between inventory numbers in the two versions.
1. Buildings 94, 390 and 602 to 611 in 2001 version are missing from 2000 version
2. Old Royal Palace recorded as 389 in 2001 version (Civilian) is recorded as 573 in 2000 version (Religious)
3. At Vat Xieng Mene 2000 version records kutis 573 and 572, missing in 2001 version
4. At Vat Long Khoune 2000 version records kutis 579, 580, 583 and 575, missing in 2001 version
5. At Vat Hat Siew 2000 version records kuti 593 missing in 2001 version
6. At Vat Hat Siew 2000 version records kuti 601 missing in 2001 version
The above changes results in an offset of up to three between inventory numbers in the two versions.