St Joseph Church

Ayuthaya


In 1665, King Narai gave the French land next to the Christian Vietnamese settlement and donated money towards building the first St Joseph Church, which was made of wood. A brick church went up soon after, but it was destroyed in the Burmese invasion. The attractive, mustard-coloured Romanesque church standing now was completed in 1891.

Many of the families living around the church today are Catholic.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Ayuthaya attractions

1. Wat Phutthai Sawan

0.53 MILES

Atmospheric ruins and lively temple worship can both be experienced at Wat Phutthai Sawan. King U Thong founded this temple in 1353 on the south bank of…

2. Wat Chai Wattanaram

0.65 MILES

Glorious in the early morning light and also at sunset, this temple is Ayuthaya's most impressive off-island site thanks to its 35m-high central prang …

3. Ayutthaya Night Market

0.92 MILES

Besides a fun selection of food (including some rather uncommon ones, like fried butterfly pea flowers) and crafts sold from thatch-roofed stalls by…

4. Ayutthaya Tourist Center

0.97 MILES

A good first stop in Ayuthaya, the historical exhibitions in the former city hall contextualise the kingdom's history and culture from ancient times to…

5. Chao Sam Phraya National Museum

1.14 MILES

The most impressive treasure of Ayuthaya's premier museum is the haul of royal gold (jewellery, utensils, votive tablets, spittoons) unearthed from the…

6. Wat Lokayasutharam

1.16 MILES

This early-Ayuthaya temple ruin in the island's northwest features an impressive 42m-long reclining Buddha in front of a precariously leaning prang (Khmer…

7. Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit

1.22 MILES

Next to Wat Phra Si Sanphet, this sanctuary hall houses one of Thailand's largest bronze Buddha images, dating to the 15th century, most likely. Coated in…

8. Ayuthaya Historical Study Centre

1.25 MILES

Though it feels staid compared to enchanting local ruins, this museum features model longboats and temples along with exhibitions on the lives of…