Auberge de France, Birgu
Auberge de France (Maltese: Berġa ta' Franza) is an auberge in Birgu, Malta. It was built in around 1533 (incorporating an earlier building) to house knights of the Order of Saint John from the langue of France, which induced the entire Kingdom of France except for Auvergne and Provence which were separate langues. The building housed the French langue until a new Auberge de France was opened in Valletta.
| Auberge de France | |
|---|---|
Berġa ta' Franza | |
Façade of Auberge de France | |
| Former names | il-Palazz tal-Miljunarju |
| General information | |
| Status | Intact |
| Type | Auberge |
| Architectural style | Melitan |
| Location | Birgu, Malta |
| Address | No. 24–27, Hilda Tabone Street |
| Coordinates | 35°53′18.6″N 14°31′22.3″E |
| Current tenants | Birgu Local Council |
| Completed | c. 1533 |
| Owner | Government of Malta |
| Technical details | |
| Material | Limestone |
| Floor count | 2 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Nicolò Flavari and Bartolommeo Genga (attributed) |
The building was subsequently sold, and it remained in private hands in the subsequent centuries, at times being informally known as il-Palazz tal-Miljunarju (The Palace of the Millionaire). In the 19th and 20th centuries, the building was used for a number of purposes, including as a school, a furniture factory and a museum. It is now Birgu's city hall, being the seat of the local council.