AUBERGE DE FRANCE

France has three languages represented in Birgu, with the auberge de France, the auberge de Provence and the auberge d'Auvergne. All three are located in the Collachio district. The Auberge de France is one of the most beautiful in Birgu, with an elaborately decorated façade attributed to the architect Bartholomeo Menga. The vestibule of this residence is modest in size, but its ceiling is Renaissance, and you'll reach a loggia via an attractive staircase. On the main door, you can see the original fleur-de-lys emblem. Like the Inn in England, the building is based on traditional Maltese architecture. The main room upstairs was once used as a language meeting room. The basement of the inn contains remains or traces of an earlier building that once stood on the site. After the Knights left for Valletta, the inn became private property, then was used as a communal school at the beginning of the English occupation, and later as a carpentry workshop, until it was finally declared state property. During the Second World War, the Auberge de France in Valletta was destroyed, leaving the one in Birgu as the only Auberge de France in Malta. In 1980, a museum of political history was installed here. It failed to attract much interest and is now closed. The hostel now houses the local Council and hosts thematic and art exhibitions from time to time.