St Paul's Hill

St Paul's Hill is a famous attraction in old Melaka, being the only visible hill within the city center with the ruins of an ancient church on the peak. Because the last remaining piece of the A'Famosa fort sits at its base, the hill is often called Bukit A'Famosa as well. In 1521, a Portuguese captain, who was among the first colonists in Malacca, built a chapel on the peak of this hill, naming it 'Nosa Senhora', which means lady of the hill. Later, Dutch forces arrived and took control of the chapel, renaming it St Paul's Church, of which the hill takes its name today. The church eventually fell into disuse after their own Christ Church was constructed next to the Stadthuys.

The Dutch then used the chapel and its surrounding grounds as a burial site, of which the tombstones and graves can still be seen by visitors today. When the British finally arrived in the later century, they turned the building into a warehouse for gunpowder and ammunitions. Finally abandoned over time, the structure became ruined and left in its present state till today, for the observation of visitors. Bukit St Paul can be reached via staircases from various directions around its base, including the A'Famosa Gate near Dataran Pahlawan, or across the road from the Stadthuys. The peak is a popular viewpoint to see the city of Malacca, where there are frequents buskers, locals and tourists.