Wat Thmey
The principal memorial of the Killing Fields in Siem Reap, featuring a skull stupa, a reminder of the Khmer Rouge regime, and an active Buddhist pagoda — a symbol of spiritual resilience.
Wat Thmey (often spelled Wat Thmei) is the main Killing Fields memorial in Siem Reap. An active Buddhist monastery, this site preserves a dark chapter of modern history: under the Khmers rouges (1975–1979) of Pol Pot, this place served as a prison, interrogation centre, and execution field where thousands of local citizens lost their lives.
Memorial & Exhibitions
More intimate than the Choeung Ek centre in Phnom Penh, Wat Thmey offers a deep immersion into the Cambodian genocide.
Glass mausoleum stupa: authentic skulls and bones collected by locals from surrounding graves. Historical panels: photos, documents, and timelines — rise of the regime, persecution of intellectuals, testimonies from local families. Prison well: a preserved deep well used during the occupation. Renewal: around the monument, a colourful pagoda where young monks live and pray.
Practical & Combining Visits
Krong Siem Reap — about 3 km north of Pub Street, on the way to Angkor Park. 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM daily · free entry (donations for monks and memorial upkeep appreciated). Dress code: shoulders and knees covered, silence and respect — an active religious site and resting place for victims.
Just 2 minutes by car from the APOPO HeroRATs centre — perfect for combining demining and remembrance in one morning or afternoon.
Standing before the glass stupa of Wat Thmey, the stark contrast with the vibrant pagoda nearby is striking: Siem Reap is not just about the Angkor temples — it is also a place where the memory of victims coexists with the prayers of today's monks.
Géraldine & Jean-Pierre
À voir sur place
- Stupa vitré — crânes et ossements authentifiés
- Panneaux photos et chronologie historique
- Puits de prison préservé
- Pagode bouddhiste active — moines
- Mémorial plus intime que Choeung Ek (PP)
Étiquette & accès
- Entrée libre — donations bienvenues
- Tenue couvrante, silence respectueux
- Sur la route vers Angkor Wat
- Combiner avec APOPO Visitor Center
- Comparer avec Choeung Ek à Phnom Penh
Photo gallery
Contact
- Address: Krong Siem Reap, Cambodge (axe nord vers Angkor, ~3 km de Pub Street)
- Hours: Tous les jours : 7h00 – 18h00