Located in the southwest corner of the island, Galle Fort stands as an icon of historical pride in the city of Galle. The construction was initiated by the Portuguese in 16th century, continued by Dutch in 17th century and further maintained by British in 19th century. Today there are about 500 houses inside Galle Fort proving that it is not only a historical ruin.
Galle Fort is number 200 on UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Anyone is free to walk through the streets of the Galle Fort and explore the culture and tradition of ancient British and Dutch. There are many houses and religious monuments that are of Gothic style and many artistic buildings have converted into boutique shops and guest houses.
Some of the major tourist attractions inside Galle Fort are, Dutch Reformed Church, National Maritime Museum, Old Dutch Hospital and the New Orient Hotel. The oldest lighthouse in Sri Lanka is believed to be the light house in Galle Fort but the original one cannot be seen today as it was destroyed by fire.
While visiting the beaches of Galle, Galle Fort is a place that should not be missed to visit.
