Built and used as an auberge in the 16th century, by the German knights, the langue of Germany moved to a new
Auberge d'Allemagne in
Valletta in the 1570s. The Birgu auberge was initially used as a private residence, before being converted into a
casa bottega. The auberge was heavily damaged by aerial bombardment during
World War II, and only some inner rooms survived the bombing. The site was rebuilt as a four-storey apartment block between 1961 and 1963, incorporating the remains of the auberge into the new building. ==Architecture and remains==