12 Facts About Henri Parmentier

Henri Parmentier has documented, depicted and preserved many Khmer, Cham and Lao monuments.

Henri Parmentier Ernest was born on 3 January 1870 in Paris; his father was a painter working in Lycee de Reims.

In 1891 Henri Parmentier entered the Ecole nationale superieure des Beaux-Arts graduating in 1905 with a diploma in architecture.

Henri Parmentier studied the architecture of Java in order to compare it to Cham architectural styles.

In 1904 Henri Parmentier was appointed the head of the archaeological department of the Ecole; he stayed on this position for 28 years until 1932.

Henri Parmentier's duties included defining the main course of the Ecole's work in Cambodia.

In 1905 Henri Parmentier married journalist and writer Jeanne Leuba who travelled with him and took a big part in the fieldwork.

Henri Parmentier visited Cambodia from time to time, documenting Angkor and Sambor Prei Kuk ; he visited Kampong Thom city and Banteay Prey Nokor.

In 1920 Henri Parmentier received an award for his book on Cham architecture.

Henri Parmentier visited the ruins of the Lao temple complex Vat Phou, he paid special attention to Krol Romeas, Angkor and the Bayon temple in particular, which he helped reconstructing.

Henri Parmentier left his position at the Ecole, received a title of the honorary head of the archaeological department and moved to Phnom Penh.

Henri Parmentier had created a draft of a tourist guidebook on Angkor monuments, which was published posthumously.