Once King Rama I had ordered built city wall and 14 forts around the city at the beginning of Bangkok era. Now some city wall and only two of the forts have left, which are Phra Sumen fort and Mahakan fort.

          To construct Phra Sumen Fort in Bangkok King Rama I recruited approximately 5,000 Vientiene people. It is said that with Phra Sumen Fort, 14 other forts and battlements in surrounding, were created in the capital.

           This octagonal shaped architecture has three levels. The walls of this fort have steps which lead up to the top. Inside the fort 38 rooms are there. These rooms primarily houses ammunitions and weapons.

          Even thought it was fired, there is a half of it left today. This fort had been built as a part of the city wall in order to protect the enemies. Nevertheless it never had a chance to do real function yet because there was no war occurred in that period.

          The roof collapsed during the reign of King Rama IV or V but was restored by the Fine Arts Department in the early 1980s using old photographs as a guide.

          There is now a small park (Santi Chai Prakan Park) surrounding here can make people feel through the past because the Phra Sumen Fort situated, and you can walk along the river all the way to Phra Pinklao Bridge. The walk is particularly pleasant.