Fort Chambray
| Fort Chambray | |
|---|---|
| Forti Chambray | |
| Mġarr, Gozo, Malta | |
Fort Chambray viewed from the landward side
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Map of Fort Chambray
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| Coordinates | 36°01′21″N 14°17′40″E / 36.02250°N 14.29444°E |
| Type | Bastioned fort |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Government of Malta |
| Controlled by | Fort Chambray Ltd |
| Open to the public |
No |
| Condition | Intact |
| Website | www.fortchambray.com |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1749–1760s |
| Built by | Order of Saint John |
| In use | 1760s–1916 |
| Materials | Limestone |
| Battles/wars | French invasion of Malta (1798) |
Fort Chambray or Fort Chambrai (Maltese: Forti Chambray or Forti Cambray) is a bastioned fort located in the precincts of Għajnsielem, on the island of Gozo, Malta. It was built in the mid-18th century by the Order of Saint John, in an area known as Ras it-Tafal, between the port of Mġarr and Xatt l-Aħmar. The fort was meant to be the citadel of a new city which was to replace the Cittadella as the island's capital, but this plan never materialized.
The fort saw use during the French invasion of Malta in 1798, and it was subsequently used as a military hospital and mental institution. The fort is currently being restored and redeveloped as a luxury accommodation.
Fort Chambray is located on Ras it-Tafal, on high ground overlooking Mġarr Harbour. The area was defended by Garzes Tower, which was built in the early 17th century, and a coastal battery was had been built in the early 18th century. The tower and the battery were demolished, and no remains have survived today.
In 1716, the French military engineer Louis François d'Aubigné de Tigné prepared plans for the construction of a fortified town at Ras it-Tafal. The Commissioners of Fortifications and War recommended constructing this proposed fort in a 1722 report, since it would be able to maintain the sea link with Malta, and would be able to take in Gozo's inhabitants and their livestock, relieving pressure from the Cittadella. However, construction was postponed indefinitely due to a lack of funding.
In 1749, the new Governor of Gozo, Jacques-François de Chambray, informed Grand Master Manuel Pinto da Fonseca that he would pay for the construction of Tigné's proposed fort. The Congregation of Fortifications and War accepted the offer on 15 September, and sent the military engineer Francesco Marandon to survey the site. The latter made a few modifications to Tigné's original design, and construction of the fort began later in September 1749 under his supervision.
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Wikipedia