The largest cathedral
In Thailand, from 1909.
K.Phothiwijit — CC BY-SA 3.0 · BerryJ — CC BY-SA 4.0 · This Photo was taken by Supanut Arunoprayote. Feel free to use any of my images, but please mention me as the author and may send me a message. (สามารถใช้ภาพได้อิสระ แต่กรุณาใส่เครดิตผู้ถ่ายและอาจส่งข — CC BY 4.0 · Willuconquer — CC BY-SA 4.0 · This Photo was taken by Supanut Arunoprayote. Feel free to use any of my images, but please mention me as the author and may send me a message. (สามารถใช้ภาพได้อิสระ แต่กรุณาใส่เครดิตผู้ถ่ายและอาจส่งข — CC BY 4.0
Thailand's largest Catholic cathedral, on the bank of the Chanthaburi river in the east of the country, built in French Neo-Gothic style with two tall spires and completed in 1909 on the site of older churches founded by missionaries from the eighteenth century for a Vietnamese Catholic community that settled here. A statue of the Virgin Mary stands in the wide square before it. Inside are a long nave with arches, columns and a timber ceiling, stained-glass windows that fill it with light, and a statue of the Virgin set with thousands of gemstones, as Chanthaburi is one of Asia's best-known ruby and gem trading towns. A few steps away lies the old Chanthaboon quarter on the riverbank, a long street of wooden houses and old shops now full of cafés and small museums. Entry is free. The cathedral is a place of worship, so visit outside Mass in modest dress and quietly. At weekends the town holds its gem market, with brokers trading at tables in the street. Chanthaburi is about three hours by car from Bangkok and is Thailand's fruit town: durian and mangosteen season runs from May to July.
In Thailand, from 1909.
Set with thousands of gems.
Wooden houses on the river.
On the Chanthaburi river, Chanthaboon quarter, Chanthaburi town
Mostly at weekends, in streets near the cathedral, where brokers trade rubies and stones.