Welcome to Galle Fort, Sri Lanka

All Saints Church

The Anglican Church of “All Saints” imposing Gothic in style,On Friday,30th October 1868,the foundation of the new church was laid by Calverly Claughton, 2nd Bishop of Colomboestablished in 1871 on the site of an old Court House (1780′s). The gallows it is said stood on the site of the present Church Altar! The weather cock on top has come down to a lower perch.The old Bell with its Latin inscription in memory of George Justus Schrader, which hung in the Bell loft over the aisle of the Church, is now in the Cathedral of Christ the Living Savior. The style of architecture is a 13 century Gothic building, modified to suit local climate. The church stands out as one of the most beautiful Anglican Churches in Sri Lanka.

National Maritime Archaeology Museum

The National Maritime Museum in Galle, is the one and only in Sri Lanka, On March 2010, it was reopened at the Dutch warehouse of the Galle fort as the National Maritime Archaeology Museum.Exhibits of marine artifacts found in underwater explorations are show cased in the Museum. There are maps, naval craft, ropes, earthenware, beer mugs, smoking pipes, barrels, vast amount of articles including artillery guns and sailor shoes. Ship wrecks in the sea off the Southern coast is where these artifacts were recovered from, some of which are nearly 800 years old.

The Dutch Reformed Church

The Dutch Reformed Church was built in 1640, and remodelled between 1752 and 1755. The church is paved with grave stones from the old Dutch cemetery. There is an old organ of 1760 vintage in the church where services are held and a pulpit made of calamander wood from Malaysia is used.

The Fort Gates

The main entrance is opposite the roundabout with the war memorial and is called the British Gate. You will find this entrance between the Sun Bastion and the central Moon Bastion. Take the Baladaksha Mawatha Road by the east side of the Sun Bastion you will come to the Portuguese Gate. Above the arch on the outside of the gate entrance you can see the remains of the British Coat of Arms. Inside you will see the Dutch East Indies Company VOC coat of arms above the gate arch. There is no Portuguese coat of arms visible. This gate leads to the Magistrates Court building and the cobbled Court Square, which is surrounded by Galle Sri Lankan Police buildings and leads to the Colonial style Old Hospital Building.

The Meeran Jumma Mosque

Built by early the Arab traders of Sri Lanka, who are the ancestral fathers of Sri Lankan Moors. Meeran Jumma Masjid Mosque is an important landmark to the large Muslim community who live within the Fort. The area is also called the Old Arab Quarters and though the Mosque is over three hundred years old, it is still very much in use. It is an architecturally beautiful building, which rises majestically with its unrivalled white splendor, amidst the background of the fort.

The Lighthouse

Galle Lighthouse is an offshore Lighthouse in Galle, and is operated and maintained by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. This is Sri Lanka’s oldest light station dating back to 1848, but the original lighthouse was destroyed by fire in 1934. The light station is within the walls of the ancient Galle fort, a UNESCO world heritage site and well known tourist attraction, making this the country’s most often visited lighthouse.