UNESCO World Heritage Site

Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications

Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications is a cultural UNESCO World Heritage Site in Sri Lanka, inscribed in 1988.

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

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.

Country
Sri Lanka
Region
Asia
Category
Cultural
Inscribed
1988
UNESCO reference
451
Area
0 ha

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Counts are based on Zikzak's current UNESCO World Heritage dataset, sourced from UNESCO. Last updated 7 August 2026. UNESCO insights

Collections featuring Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications

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