Somdet Phra Narai Ruins

While in Lopburi, Christina recommended we visit a former royal palace called Somdet Phra Narai that was built in 1665 with the help of Italian and French engineers. Most of us agreed this was our favorite ruins visit to date in Thailand because a person can easily walk around and envision the premises the way it existed centuries ago.

Apparently the king of France, Louis XIV, send an envoy to Thailand where they met the king of Thailand in this royal palace. The king received guests from the upper tier and was apparently ticked off that the French visitors didn't know the appropriate protocol when approaching him, so the story goes.

It was wonderful to not only see the building ruins from the 17th century but to walk the manicured palace grounds. A definite must see for anyone traveling to Lopburi!