HEAVY TIGNED

This fort divides the district of Sliema into two distinct waterfronts: the first, which faces the ancient city of Valletta, and the second which faces the sea in the direction of St Julian's. A large shopping centre bearing this name has been integrated into the fortified historic point, which has been fitted out with luxurious accommodation and a pleasant promenade facing the old town. On the way, you will notice the small building of the former seawater distillery dating from 1881. It ends at the famous Dragut Point. During the Great Siege of 1565, it was here that the great Turkish chieftain (called Dargut) lost his life, wounded by a shrapnel, while he and his men tried to seize the Saint-Elme fort opposite, which was done three days after his death. In 1792, the French grandmaster Rohan-Polduc and his teammate, Knight De Tigné, reinforced the defence of this point by building the fort named after the knight. This will be the last great fort built by the knights. Doubling the cannons of Fort Saint-Elme, it provided an interesting crossfire for the defence of the port and the capital. During Napoleon's invasion of Malta, it will be one of the rare places of resistance, it will briefly serve as a garrison for the French forces before falling into the hands of Maltese insurgents. The guns of Fort Tigné were also used by the English to attack Valletta. When they left in 1979, it was used for a time as a desalination plant before being restored.