Fort Rotterdam Castle of Makassar

Fort Rotterdam is a castle as the heritage of Gowa-Tallo Kingdom. The name of Fort Rotterdam given by governor of Holland. And it is located at western of Makassar as the capital town of South Sulawesi, Indonesia.

The castle is held in 1545 by the 9th King of Gowa “I Manrigau Daeng Bonto Karaeng Lakiung Tupama’risi’kallonna”. Former it is built from clay but the construction change by others King Sultan Alauddin be rock from the Kars Mountain which spread as long as South Sulawesi area. This castle has unique structure, if we see carefully this castle resemble with a turtle.
In fact, the truth name of this castle formerly is Ujung Pandang Castle or called by the villagers there as the Panyyua Castle or Turtle castle. But the pure name changed by the Governor of Holland in Makassar ‘Cornelis Speelman’ become Fort Rotterdam to remind his made home in Holland. By the government of Holland at time, this castle use as the central warehouse of spice in western of Indonesia before sends to Holland.

For the visitors you could enjoy the architecture of ancient building and inside of it there is museum namely La Galigo and the ex of Sultan Diponegoro jail. The museum will be present the history and reference of the Great Makassar (Gowa-Tallo) Kingdom in the past. Of course this is a very interesting historical tourism for you. In the museum the visitors could see strictly the traditional weapon of Sulawesi, traditional clothes and many others.
Source: Wikipedia Indonesia