The Galle Fort covers an area of 36 hectares and encloses several museums, a clock tower, churches, mosques, a lighthouse, hotels and many private residences.

The ancient walls, dating to the Dutch era, are largely intact. The ramparts were built by the Dutch to prevent attacks from sinhala kings. These are the Star Bastion, Moon Bastion and Sun Bastion. The 20m-high lighthouse, built by the British in1934, dominates point Utrecht Bastion at the Fort’s south- eastern corner. There are the Triton, Neptune and Clippenburg Bastions, beyond which there is an Army camp at Aeolus Bastion.

The real charm of old Galle lies in the quiet back streets and alleyways of the Fort, which have changed little since colonial times.

There are two entries to the fort- the Main Gate, built by the British in 1873 which pierces the main ramparts between the Sun and Moon Bastions and the Old Gate, further to the east on Bakadaksha Mawatha ( customs Road). Just beyond the Old Gate stands the Zwart Bastion ( Black Fort)- the oldest fortification surviving in Galle, and thought to be of Portuguese origin. With the exception of Zwart Bastion, the interior of Galle Fort strongly speaks of the Dutch period. Several of the narroew streets still bear Dutch names.

Many of the streets are lined with formerly extravagant buildings characterized by large rooms, arched verandahs and windows protected by heavy, wooden- louvered shutters.

The northern part of the Fort is dominated by the British- built Clock Tower and a small roundabout located immediately within the Main Gate.

The National Cultural Museum and National Maritime Museum are nearby.

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