Luang Prabang Province occupies an area of 16,875 square kilometres and has a total population of 405,949 people (2005 census). It comprises 11 districts - Muang Nambak, Muang Ngoy, Muang Viengkham, Muang Pakseng, Muang Pak Ou, Muang Chomphet, Muang Phonxai, Muang Luang Prabang, Muang Xiang Ngeun, Muang Nan and Muang Phoukhoun. In addition to the majority Lao community, the province is home to numerous ethnic minority groups. In addition to the majority Lao population, Austro-Thai speakers are represented here by Lu (Tai-Kadai/Tay-Thai/South Western Tay-Thai/Lao-Lu), Kalom, Phuan, Tai Daeng, Tai Dam, Tai Khao and Yuan (Tai-Kadai/Tay-Thai/South Western Tay-Thai/Tai), Tai Nua and Tai Then (Tai-Kadai/Tay-Thai/Northern Tay-Thai) and Hmong and Yao (Hmong-Mien); Austro-Asiatic speakers by Khmu (Mon-Khmer/Khmuic); and Sino-Tibetan speakers by Haw (Han) and and Phunoi (Lolo-Burmish). Luang Prabang itself is an extraordinary historic city that became the capital of the ancient kingdom of Lane Xang. Founded as early as the 14th century, Luang Prabang was one of three important Lao political centres. After the establishment of the French protectorate in 1893, Luang Prabang remained an important city, especially as the residence and traditional capital of the ruling family of Luang Prabang. Today the town remains significant as the site of numerous Buddhist temples (wats), some dating from as early as the 15th century, and other buildings, such as the Royal Palace (constructed between 1904 and 1909), associated with the Luang Prabang Kingdom. There is also a remarkable collection of mostly early 20th-century shophouses which line the principal commercial street, and many older wood and masonry private houses, demonstrating a variety of Lao traditional building forms, materials and construction techniques. Luang Prabang was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995, a point of great pride to local residents and the Lao people more generally.