The Galle Fort was originally built by the Portuguese and further developed by the Dutch beginning in 1663 - it has now been recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Galle was also the main port for Sri Lanka for over 200 years.
The Fort itself covers nearly 4 square kilometers and occupies most of the promontory that forms the older part of Galle. Inside the Fort, is an amazing collection of old Dutch-colonial buildings and architecture. As you can see in the picure below some of the buildings in the Fort have some real character!
The classic barn-style roofing sets Dutch colonial homes apart from any other. Many Dutch barns were built with these roofs to maximize space on the second floor, and even allow for a hayloft on the third floor. These features were then incorporated to Dutch colonial buildings. Some other characteristics of Dutch colonial architecture include side entrances, central double Dutch doorways, asymmetrical layouts, ground level porches, double hung sash windows, and a chimney at one or both ends.
There are also examples of crumbling old homes that people have purchased and restored to their former glory, like the house below.
All we can say is that making a trip to Galle is like taking a step back in time. A truly relaxing and magical place to end our trip, even the local cat seems to agree!
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