From Schorndorf pensioner to Cambodia expert: Stories by Angkor Wat

From Schorndorf pensioner to Cambodia expert: Stories by Angkor Wat

Schorndorf, Deutschland - Werner Neher, 73 years old and living in Schorndorf, has developed a deep passion for the culture and history of Cambodia. Particularly stimulated by the impressive historical sites, he often speaks about Angkor Wat , the largest religious building in the world. He did comprehensive research on Cambodia and learned a lot about the country's geographical and economic features. Cambodia is not only the location of the cultural heritage of Angkor, but also has the world's most fish -rich lake in the world and is one of the largest rice producers by residents, together with Laos.

Angkor, located in Siem Reap, extends over about 400 km² and is one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. Here are numerous temples and hydraulic buildings, which reflect excellent engineering and social order during the Khmer-Königreich. The best -known temples include Angkor Wat, Bayon, Preah Khan and Ta Prohm, which are exemplary for the cultural importance and the architectural achievements of the Khmer. The entire region is still inhabited by villages, the residents of which have close family ties to the Angkor period and are mainly active in agriculture and rice production.

The cultural and historical relevance of Angkor Wat

The architecture of Angkor has developed over the centuries from Indian influences, but has produced unique characteristics that have shaped the development of culture in Southeast Asia. During its heyday, which lasted from the 9th to the 14th century, the Khmer Empire was a center of political and cultural life in the region. Despite its later rediscovery in the 19th century, the city of Angkor was overgrown by the jungle by French colonialists for centuries and was largely forgotten up to this point.

The "RESISTICE" by Angkor Wat is attributed to the French explorer Henri Mouhot, who visited the temple in the 1860s and whose descriptions aroused interest in the old Khmer civilization in Europe. While the local population was always informed about the existence of the temple and continued to use it as a pilgrimage, the colonial administration under the French began to carry out significant archaeological work to secure the legacy of Angkor.

challenges and maintenance measures

The conservation efforts initiated by the École Française d’Onpland-Orient (Efeo) included the cleaning and restoration of bas-reliefs and statues as well as the removal of overgrown trees. The technology of the anastylosis was used to rebuild some structures with the original elements. Despite these progress, there are challenges, especially with regard to the preservation of cultural identity and the needs of the local population.
The Angkor region is currently also populated by more than 100,000 inhabitants, which endangers the integrity of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tourism brings both economic potential and risks for the cultural heritage and requires careful administration.

The UNESCO has recognized the Angkor area as a World Heritage Site and in recent years there have been numerous efforts to support the maintenance and management of the site by projects such as Angkor Management Plan (AMP) and the Community Development Participation Project (CDPP). These measures are intended to promote sustainable development and reduction in poverty and at the same time protect the cultural traditions and the natural environment of the region.