Galle Fort

Galle Fort

Galle Fort was built in 1588 by the Portuguese colonialists, and fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century. This fort is a historical, archaeological and architectural monument, which even after 423 years retains its original appearance, thanks to the work of reconstructors from the Department of Archaeologists of Sri Lanka. The fort has a rich history and today has a multi-ethnic and multi-religious population. The fort has been recognized by UNESCO as a UNESCO World Heritage Site of cultural heritage that illustrates the interaction of European architecture and South Asian traditions from the 16th to the 19th centuries. Galle Fort, also known as the Dutch Fort or the "Rampwaters of Galle", withstood a major tsunami in 2004 that damaged part of the coastal city of Galle. Some of the main attractions of the fort are: the Dutch Chapel, the old Dutch government residence, the residence of the commander, a large warehouse near the Old Gate for storing spices and ship equipment (which now houses the National Maritime Museum), the old Dutch hospital, the Meer Mosque, a Buddhist temple built on the territory of the Portuguese Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Church, the 1882 clock tower and the Galle Lighthouse. After the Tsunami disaster in 2004, when most of the buildings were damaged, the Ministry of Culture began a reconstruction project, paying great attention to the architecture of previous centuries, to preserve the historical appearance. We will walk along the streets among buildings built several centuries ago, in which people still live, among old trading houses, which house small shops with local goods, and cafes. We'll walk along the fortress walls at golden hour and leave time for beautiful photographs against the backdrop of the sunset in the ocean.