Auberge d'Angleterre (Birgu)

Eight tongues, eight houses

The Order of the Knights of Malta was an international organisation, divided into eight "langues" (tongues) by nationality: Provence, Auvergne, France, Castile, Aragon, Italy, Germany, and England. Each langue had its own residence — an auberge — where knights of that nationality lived, dined, and held council. The Auberge d'Angleterre in Birgu was home to the English knights.

The English langue — a turbulent history

The English langue had the most turbulent history of all. When Henry VIII broke with the Catholic Church in 1534 and declared himself head of the Church of England, English knights found themselves in an impossible position — Catholic religious in a Protestant kingdom. Henry confiscated the Order's English properties, and the langue effectively ceased to exist. It was only restored symbolically centuries later.

The building in Birgu

The Auberge d'Angleterre in Birgu is one of the oldest buildings of its kind in Malta, predating the auberges in Valletta. It dates from the period when Birgu (not Valletta) was the Order's capital — before the Great Siege of 1565. Today the building is privately owned and closed to visitors, but its façade can be admired from the street.

Practical tip: The building is in the historic part of Birgu, near the waterfront. Combine the visit with the Inquisitor's Palace and St. Lawrence Church — all within walking distance.