Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications


World Heritage Identification Number: 451

World Heritage since: 1988

Category: Cultural Heritage

Transboundary Heritage: No

Endangered Heritage: No

Country: 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka

Continent: Asia

UNESCO World Region: Asia and the Pacific

Map

The Old Town of Galle and Its Fortifications: A Unique Blend of Cultures

The Old Town of Galle and Its Fortifications, located on the southwestern coast of Sri Lanka, is a remarkable testament to the rich cultural interplay that occurred during the 16th and 18th centuries. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988, this historic town offers a unique blend of European architectural styles and South Asian traditions.

More to come…

UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

Founded in the 16th century by the Portuguese, Galle reached the height of its development in the 18th century, before the arrival of the British. It is the best example of a fortified city built by Europeans in South and South-East Asia, showing the interaction between European architectural styles and South Asian traditions.

Encyclopedia Record: Galle

Galle is a major city on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, 119 km (74 mi) south of Colombo. Galle is the provincial capital and largest city of Southern Province, Sri Lanka and is the capital of Galle District.

Read more on Wikipedia

Additional Site Details

Area: Not available

UNESCO Criteria: (iv) — Outstanding example of a type of building or landscape

Coordinates: 6.028051 , 80.216346

Image

Image of Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications

© A.Savin, FAL Resized from original.

About World Heritage Explorer

World Heritage Explorer is an independent educational project designed to uncover and share the richness of our world’s cultural and natural heritage. Dive into detailed site profiles, immersive imagery, interactive maps, and tools that help you explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites across the globe. Drawing extensively on open data sources, the project delivers authoritative, well-structured information for learners, educators, travelers, and younger explorers alike.

Learn more

Nearby World Heritage Sites

Sinharaja Forest Reserve
53 km — Sri Lanka
Sacred City of Kandy
148 km — Sri Lanka
Central Highlands of Sri Lanka
171 km — Sri Lanka
Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple
209 km — Sri Lanka
Ancient City of Sigiriya
222 km — Sri Lanka

Country Information: Sri Lanka

Flag of Sri Lanka

Official Name: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

Capital: Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte

Continent: Asia

Population (2024): 21,916,000

Population (2023): 22,037,000

Population (2022): 22,181,000

Land Area: 61,860 sq km

Currency: Sri Lankan rupee (LKR)

Country Data Sources

Last updated: January 18, 2026

Portions of the page Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications are based on data from UNESCO — World Heritage List Dataset and on text from the Wikipedia article Galle, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes made. Additional original content by World Heritage Explorer (WHE), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. WHE is not affiliated with UNESCO or the World Heritage Committee. Legal Notice. Privacy Policy.

Open Data for an Open World