Cultural
Vieille ville de Galle et ses fortifications
Sri Lanka
Photo : Giovanni Boccardi (CC BY-SA 3.0 igo)
A fortified historic town on the southwestern coast of Sri Lanka, Galle Old Town represents a significant example of European colonial settlement in South Asia. The site was established as a Portuguese trading post in the 16th century and subsequently developed by the Dutch, who constructed the impressive star-shaped fortress that dominates the settlement. The fortifications encompass an area of approximately 36 hectares and feature substantial walls, bastions, and gates that reflect military architecture of the colonial period. Within the fortified perimeter, a substantial portion of the original street layout and building stock has been preserved, including administrative structures, residences, places of worship, and commercial buildings that illustrate the multicultural character of the settlement. The visual character of Galle Old Town is distinguished by its combination of colonial architecture with indigenous South Asian elements, set against the backdrop of the Indian Ocean. The site has been recognized for its outstanding universal value as a testimony to the interchange between European and South Asian cultures during the colonial era.
