Kampung Morten

Kampung Morten is a traditional Malay heritage village located on the banks of the Melaka River in Melaka Tengah, Malacca. Established in the 1920s, it preserves authentic Melakan Malay wooden houses on stilts and is recognized as a living museum. The village is notable for its well-preserved architecture, cultural heritage, and Villa Sentosa, a heritage house museum showcasing traditional lifestyle and artifacts.

Visitors can expect a tranquil riverside village with rows of traditional Melakan Malay houses built on stilts, featuring high-pitched roofs, carved woodwork and elevated verandas. The settlement is situated along the Melaka River opposite the city centre. Visitors can walk through the village lanes, view heritage houses from outside, visit Villa Sentosa living museum to see period furnishings and family heirlooms, and observe daily village life. The area is compact and walkable.

Kampung Morten was established in 1922 by Othman bin Mohd Noh, who gathered Malay families to form a village on land allocated with the assistance of British Land Commissioner J.F. Morten, after whom the village is named. It was created to provide a dedicated settlement for Malays near Melaka town and has been preserved as a heritage village to maintain traditional Melakan Malay architecture and lifestyle.

The village is a living heritage site that preserves traditional Melakan Malay architecture, customs and community life. It showcases classic Malay houses on stilts, traditional craftsmanship, and family heirlooms at Villa Sentosa, representing the cultural identity of Melaka Malays and serving as an important cultural attraction within the Melaka UNESCO World Heritage buffer area.