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The Naxxar Entrenchment ( mt, Trunċiera tan-Naxxar) is an infantry entrenchment in Naxxar, Malta, which was built in the 18th century by the Order of Saint John. Today, it lies in ruins but is still the best preserved inland entrenchment in Malta. It is a list monument of the NICPMI.
Today, the entrenchment lies in ruins, but it is considered to be the best preserved inland entrenchment in Malta. Most of the curtain walls had collapsed by the 1970s, but the redans remain largely intact. Part of the entrenchment is breached by Triq is-Salina, the road leading to
National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands
Entrenchments in Malta Buildings and structures completed in 1722 Hospitaller fortifications in Malta Limestone buildings in Malta Ruins in Malta Naxxar National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands 18th-century fortifications 1722 establishments in Malta 18th Century military history of Malta
History
The Naxxar Entrenchment is part of a series of fortifications built by the Order of Saint John in the early 18th century. The building programme began in 1714-16 with the construction ofcoastal batteries
Coastal artillery is the branch of the armed forces concerned with operating anti-ship artillery or fixed gun batteries in coastal fortifications.
From the Middle Ages until World War II, coastal artillery and naval artillery in the form of c ...
, redoubts and coastal entrenchments. By 1722, it was realized that there weren't enough soldiers to man all the fortifications, so the Order decided that in the case of an invasion, they would retreat to the Great Fault, a large fault cutting across northern Malta.
To be able to do this, construction was begun on a series of entrenchments close to the fault. These entrenchments were similar to the ones built around the coastline, with the main difference being that they were inland. The Naxxar Entrenchment was built on the high ground of the Great Fault, while other entrenchments were built at Falca Gap, San Pawl tat-Tarġa and other strategic locations.
The entrenchment, which consisted of four redans linked together by curtain walls, was built in 1722. It was built in the ''pietra a secco'' manner. A ditch was also excavated along the entrenchment.
The entrenchment was incorporated into the Victoria Lines by the British.
Present day
Today, the entrenchment lies in ruins, but it is considered to be the best preserved inland entrenchment in Malta. Most of the curtain walls had collapsed by the 1970s, but the redans remain largely intact. Part of the entrenchment is breached by Triq is-Salina, the road leading to Magħtab
Magħtab is a village in Naxxar, Malta. Magħtab is mostly known for Malta's largest landfill. Since Malta joined the E.U in 2004, the landfill has been closed. Rehabilitation of the closed landfill is in progress.
The '' Il-Widna'' acoustic m ...
and Salina.
References
External links
{{commons category, Naxxar EntrenchmentNational Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands
Entrenchments in Malta Buildings and structures completed in 1722 Hospitaller fortifications in Malta Limestone buildings in Malta Ruins in Malta Naxxar National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands 18th-century fortifications 1722 establishments in Malta 18th Century military history of Malta