Visit the famous Galle Dutch Fort
The Galle Fort, also known as the Dutch Fort or the Ramparts of Galle, is a beautiful Portuguese fortress in the Bay of Galle on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka. It was first built in 1588 by the Portuguese, then extensively reconstructed by the Dutch during the 17th century. After several hundreds of years, the fort still maintains a polished appearance that makes it named a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its fusion of European architecture and South Asian traditions. Being a charming old trafing port, this historic town is a delight to wander around, with rambling lanes of imposing Dutch-colonial buildings, grand mansions, ancient mosques, and quirky boutiques. Some of the important heritage landmarks and unmissable sights in the fort are the Dutch Reformed Church dating back to 1755, the Meera Mosque built in 1904, the Old Dutch Hospital, the All Saints Anglican Church built in 1871, the National Maritime Museum, and the 1939 Galle Lighthouse.
