1584; 440 years ago (1584) and 1684; 340 years ago (1684)
Built by
Portuguese and Dutch
Materials
Granite Stones and coral
Battles/wars
Siege of Galle (1640) Several other battles
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name
Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications
Type
Cultural
Criteria
iv
Designated
1988 (10th session)
Reference no.
451
Region
Asia-Pacific
Galle Fort (Sinhala: ගාලු කොටුවGalu Kotuwa; Tamil: காலிக் கோட்டை, romanized: Kālik Kōṭṭai), in the Bay of Galle on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, was built first in 1588 by the Portuguese, then extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century from 1649 onwards. It is a historical, archaeological and architectural heritage monument, which even after more than 432 years maintains a polished appearance, due to extensive reconstruction work done by the Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka.[1]
The fort has a colourful history, and today has a multi-ethnic and multi-religious population.[2][3][4] The Sri Lankan government and many Dutch people who still own some of the properties inside the fort are looking at making this one of the modern wonders of the world.[4][5] The heritage value of the fort has been recognized by the UNESCO and the site has been inscribed as a cultural heritage UNESCO World Heritage Site under criteria iv, for its unique exposition of "an urban ensemble which illustrates the interaction of European architecture and South Asian traditions from the 16th to the 19th centuries."[3]
The Galle Fort, also known as the Dutch Fort or the "Ramparts of Galle", withstood the Boxing Day tsunami which damaged part of coastal area Galle town. It has since been restored.[2]
^C. Brooke Elliott (1 December 1996). Real Ceylon. Asian Educational Services. pp. 30–33. ISBN 978-81-206-1135-1. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
^ ab"Galle and Galle Fort". Discover Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 3 October 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
^ ab"Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications". Unesco.org. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
^ ab"Advisory Body Evaluation" (pdf). Unesco.org. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
^Brett Atkinson (1 August 2009). Lonely Planet Sri Lanka. Lonely Planet. pp. 131–. ISBN 978-1-74104-835-3. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
GalleFort (Sinhala: ගාලු කොටුව Galu Kotuwa; Tamil: காலிக் கோட்டை, romanized: Kālik Kōṭṭai), in the Bay of Galle on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, was...
The Gallefort is a World Heritage Site and is the largest remaining fortress in Asia built by European occupiers. Other prominent landmarks in Galle include...
பன்னாட்டு அரங்கம்) is a cricket stadium in Galle, Sri Lanka, situated near GalleFort and fringed on two sides by the Indian Ocean. It is considered to be one...
The GalleFort Post Office is the post office in GalleFort, Sri Lanka. The first post office was located at 92 Pedlar Street (originally known as Moor...
Galle (Sinhala: ගාල්ල දිස්ත්රික්කය gālla distrikkaya; Tamil: காலி மாவட்டம் Kāli māvattam) is a district in Southern Province, Sri Lanka. It is one of...
The GalleFort Hotel in Sri Lanka is a 12-room boutique hotel, situated inside GalleFort, Galle. The building was originally constructed in the 17th century...
ramparts of Colombo Fort and the city's cemetery (established in 1803), to the west by the Indian Ocean, whilst to the south by the Galle Face Hotel (established...
The Galle Clock Tower (or Anthonisz Memorial Clock Tower) is located within the GalleFort in Galle, Sri Lanka. The Clock Tower is a popular landmark...
in Galle, Sri Lanka built within GalleFort, the 17th-century Dutch fort, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Just to its north is the Galle International...
located on the southwest bastion (the Utrecht Bastion) of GalleFort on the western side of Galle Harbor. It had a fixed point light with prolate reflectors...
Portuguese Forts Arandora fort Arippu fort Batticaloa fort Colombo fort Delft Island fortFort Fredrick Fort Hammenheil GalleFort Haldummulla fort† Hanwella...
Newspapers of Ceylon Limited. Retrieved 18 August 2022. "Lankem buys boutique GalleFort Hotel for Rs. 770 m". Daily FT. Wijeya Newspapers. 24 November 2011. Retrieved...
of Galle (Galle National Museum) is one of the national museums of Sri Lanka. It is located in the oldest remaining Dutch building in the Gallefort, Galle...
years later due to bad investments, he rented a shop on Pedlar Street in GalleFort and started his own import/export company, Chas. P. Hayley & Co., on 10...
harbour was built in Colombo. After the construction of GalleFort in the 17th century, Galle Port was a major port in the Indian Ocean for more than...
Aytona Palma de Mallorca Star Fort (Matara) Jaffna Fort (Jaffna) GalleFortFort Nieuw-Amsterdam, New Amsterdam, Commewijne Fort Zeelandia, Waterside, Paramaribo...
කොටුව මීරාන් ජුම්මා මස්ජිදය), commonly known as GalleFort Mosque, is a mosque located within GalleFort, Southern Province, Sri Lanka. The current two-storey...
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