Virtual tour panorama showing Phra Sumen Fortress in Bangkok.

Phra Sumen Fortress - Bangkok visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Phra Sumen Fortress' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Central Thailand.

Phra Sumen Fortress (also known as Phra Sumeru) is the northernmost of 14 octagonal fortresses built by Rama I around 1783 to defend the royal palaces situated in Ratanakosin when Bangkok became the official capital of Thailand. The capital city had up to this time been Ayutthaya, which was sacked by the Burmese in 1767. The royal court moved for a short time to Thonburi on the other side of the Chao Phraya River before finally establishing themselves in Ratanakosin.

In 1782 the Lak Muang of Bangkok was installed near to the Grand Palace at an astrologically auspicious time thereby providing a home for the spirits of the city and proclaiming the founding of Bangkok. The fortresses were built to defend the city.

Phra Sumen has three levels and originally contained some 38 rooms for the storage of ammunition and weapons. Phra Sumen fell into disrepair and was restored in the 1980's by the Department of Fine Art, around the same time as the Lak Muang was restored to mark the bicentenary of the founding of Bangkok.

Phra Sumen is one of only two of the fortresses to survive until the present time. The other is Phra Mahakan Fortress which is located near to the Golden Mount just over the road from the King Prajadhipok Museum and Wat Rajnadda.

The area around Phra Sumen has been turned into a small park, called Santichaiprakarn Park, and is popular with young Thais who frequent the area in the evenings.

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