About St. Paul's Hill and Church
St. Paul's Hill and Church is a historic hilltop site in Bandar Hilir, Melaka, featuring the ruins of St. Paul's Church originally built in 1521 by the Portuguese. Located within the Melaka UNESCO World Heritage Site, the roofless laterite church stands on the summit of Bukit St. Paul overlooking the city and the Strait of Melaka. It is notable for its Portuguese, Dutch and British layers and its association with St. Francis Xavier.
Visitors guide
Visitors climb a flight of steps to the summit of St. Paul's Hill to explore the open-air ruins of St. Paul's Church. Expect roofless laterite walls, historic tombstones with Portuguese and Dutch inscriptions, a white marble statue of St. Francis Xavier in front of the church, and panoramic views over Bandar Hilir, the Melaka River and the coastline. The site is an open historic area with information plaques and surrounding lawns, adjacent to A Famosa fortress at the foot of the hill.
Key highlights
- 01
Ruins of St. Paul's Church built in 1521, the oldest church building in Malaysia and Southeast Asia
- 02
Statue of St. Francis Xavier commemorating his association with the church
- 03
Historic Dutch and Portuguese tombstones inside the roofless nave
- 04
Panoramic viewpoint over Melaka city, Bandar Hilir and the Strait of Melaka
- 05
Hilltop location within the Melaka UNESCO World Heritage Site core zone
- 06
Adjacent to A Famosa fortress at the base of the hill
History of St. Paul's Hill and Church
Originally built in 1521 by Portuguese captain Duarte Coelho as a chapel dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Annunciada (Our Lady of the Annunciation). Renamed St. Paul's Church in 1548 and used by St. Francis Xavier as a base for missionary work; his body was temporarily interred here in 1553 before being moved to Goa. After the Dutch conquest in 1641 it was used as a Dutch Reformed church and burial ground, and later under British rule was left as ruins. The structure reflects Portuguese, Dutch and British periods in Melaka.
Culture & Context
Part of the Historic City of Melaka UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 2008, representing Portuguese colonial heritage and early Christianity in Southeast Asia. The church ruins and hill are a landmark of Melaka's multicultural layered history and remain a significant heritage and educational site for visitors.