Beautiful architectural structures in Sa Pa

VTC News•31/12/2023

Sa Pa makes a strong impression with its architectural works that hold historical and cultural significance. Let's take a look at some of the legendary ancient architectural works, symbols of Sa Pa tourism : Sa Pa Stone Church. The old Sa Pa church (or Our Lady of the Rosary Church), located in the center of the town, is a famous Sa Pa tourist attraction, built by the French in the early 20th century.

Sa Pa Stone Church.

Before construction, the French carefully studied the site, choosing a large, flat area in front and Ham Rong Mountain behind. The ancient stone church of Sa Pa was built with its entrance facing the sunrise, as they believed this was the direction to receive the light of God. At the back of the church is the bell tower facing west – the birthplace of Christ. The church's architecture follows the Romanesque Gothic style, with the roof, arches, and bell tower all having a pointed shape, giving the structure an elegant look. The entire church is built of carved stone with a mixture of lime, sand, and molasses. The walls of the cross are textured to resemble flowing stalactites, creating a very natural beauty. The ceiling, originally made of lime and straw, has been renovated, while the ceiling above the bell tower, made of a mixture of lime, iron, and straw, remains in its original state. The total area of the church is approximately 6000 square meters, divided into several sections: the church, the priest's residence, the parish house, the livestock area, the angel house, the courtyard, the sacred garden, and the surrounding fence. The complex includes the Angel House, comprising three upper-floor rooms dedicated to treating the sick or providing overnight accommodation for travelers, a basement, a kitchen, and toilets. The church, covering 500 square meters, consists of seven sections and a bell tower with a bell cast in 1932, weighing 500 kg and standing 1.5 meters tall. Ta Phin Ancient Monastery: Located in Ta Phin village, about 12 km east of Sa Pa town center, Ta Phin Monastery is a popular tourist destination. Situated at the foot of the mountain, it was built in 1942. It was once a place of worship for 12 ascetic nuns of the Reformed Christian Church, who practiced their faith and preached. In 1945, the nuns moved to Hanoi , leaving the monastery abandoned.

Ta Phin Ancient Monastery.

Overall, the monastery consists of a five-bay building facing west, three stories high, which served as the living quarters for the nuns. All that remains now are the moss-covered stone walls, weathered by time. The monastery can be described as a different world , with a distinctly European beauty, completely separate from the mountainous landscape of Sa Pa. The walls are made entirely of laterite stone, while the interior features sturdy walls and windows. The ancient Cat Cat hydroelectric power plant , situated beside the Tien Sa waterfall, is a striking feature of the Cat Cat village tourist area – one of Sa Pa's famous tourist destinations. Following the steep, narrow path down the valley to the waterfall area, visitors will encounter an old, moss-covered iron power pole with a small plaque bearing the inscription: "Power pole dating back to 1925".

The ancient Cat Cat hydroelectric power plant.

The Cat Cat hydroelectric power plant is one of the first two hydroelectric power plants built by the French in Sa Pa. Nearly 100 years later, it is still protected and preserved to safeguard its historical value and to serve tourism. At that time, transporting materials and equipment from the Lao Cai railway station to the construction site was very difficult, so construction took many years to complete. It is known that construction materials were transported from France by sea to Hai Phong port, then by train to Lao Cai. According to historical documents, the Cat Cat hydroelectric power plant had an initial design capacity of 50 kW/h, mainly supplying electricity to the telegraph system and for the living needs of French officers and soldiers. In 1953, during the anti-bandit resistance movement, to prevent sabotage, the local government decided to move the generator system to Yen Bai for safekeeping, thus ceasing operation. By 1960, when the Poles built a geophysics station in Sa Pa district, they assisted in repairing and restoring the Cat Cat hydroelectric power plant. Polish experts designed and commissioned a new turbine generator in Poland, increasing the Cat Cat hydroelectric plant's capacity to 100 kW/h, providing sufficient electricity for the geophysics station and several key Sa Pa administrative offices at that time. Among the old villas in the Sa Pa Tourism Union Hotel , you can't miss the French colonial villas. Within the more than 2-hectare grounds of the Hotel, there are 8 buildings constructed in French architecture; however, only 2 buildings remain original, 3 have been restored, and 3 have been newly built on the foundations of the old villas. The villas were built between 1937 and 1941. Each villa has an area of over 200 m2 and is 2-3 stories high.

When visiting Sa Pa, you can't miss the old French villas.

The villas are all built on contour lines, surrounded by green spaces, gardens, stone fences, and beautiful views. Skilled architects chose stone for the walls, with each stone bonded together with honey and salt. The roof tiles and floor tiles are made in France under the SATIC brand. Despite enduring centuries of weathering, the red tiles, though no longer vibrant, remain durable. Source: https://vtcnews.vn/nhung-cong-trinh-kien-truc-dep-o-sa-pa-ar844671.html