Information
Landmark: Casa BernardCity: Rabat
Country: Malta
Continent: Europe
Casa Bernard, Rabat, Malta, Europe
Overview
Casa Bernard, a historic palazzo in the town of Rabāt, Malta, ranks among the finest and best-kept examples of traditional Maltese noble homes, with sunlit limestone walls that still hold their original warmth.Part home, part museum, the house lets visitors step into the world of an 18th‑century Maltese aristocratic family, where polished marble floors still echo with the past.Casa Bernard, built in the early 1600s by the noble Bernard family, traces its roots to France, where they lived before settling in Malta in the late 1500s.The Bernard family once belonged to the Knights of St. John, who governed Malta from 1530 to 1798.Their house, built as a private residence, reflects the grandeur of Maltese aristocracy-thick limestone walls, arched doorways, and a design that made their wealth and standing impossible to miss.Inside, the sweeping curves of Baroque and the clean lines of Neoclassicism mirror the grand architectural trends that shaped Malta and much of Europe in the 1600s and 1700s.Casa Bernard, with its ornate stone balconies and carved doorways, stands as a fine example of the Maltese Baroque favored in the Knights of St. John’s time.The house follows a classic Maltese townhouse style, its wide, ornate façade catching the light on carved stonework, while a roomy central courtyard opens off a main hall leading to every room.Inside, high painted ceilings rise above period furniture, framed artwork, and carefully placed decorative pieces.Much of the house still holds its original furnishings and decor, letting visitors glimpse how Maltese nobility once lived.Outside, the garden unfolds in classic Mediterranean style, with the splash of fountains, bright flowerbeds, and stone paths worn smooth by centuries of footsteps.The garden feels calm and still, a quiet world away from the clatter of the streets outside.Step through Casa Bernard’s entrance and you’ll find yourself in a wide courtyard, where a stone fountain trickles at its heart.Maltese-patterned tiles line the house’s hallways, their worn edges hinting at decades of footsteps, and the effect is both historic and striking.The salon, one of the home’s grandest rooms, gleams with rich furnishings, tall mirrors, and tapestries heavy with intricate designs.It reflects the family’s social standing in the Baroque era.Upstairs, the rooms feel private-bedrooms and personal spaces adorned with painted ceilings and antique chairs that speak of taste and wealth.In the library, shelves hold an impressive collection, including volumes from the 1600s and 1700s whose leather bindings still smell faintly of old paper.This room ranks among the most important in the house, a quiet showcase of the Bernard family’s love for books and ideas.The grand staircases, with their polished banisters and sweeping curves, stand as defining elements of the home’s design.Stone staircases, their iron railings curled into delicate patterns, climb toward the upper floors where family and guests once lingered in the warm breeze; today, Casa Bernard serves as a museum, inviting visitors to step into the daily life of a noble household from the Knights of St. John era.The Bernard family’s descendants own the museum and run it with a sharp eye for authenticity and historical detail.Inside, you’ll find antique furniture polished smooth by time, rare pieces, and heirlooms handed down through generations.Inside the house, each artifact-a worn leather-bound journal, a silver candlestick-whispers part of the family’s story and their mark on Malta’s culture.Casa Bernard welcomes visitors for guided tours that bring to life its history, the Bernard family, and the rich Baroque art and architecture within its walls.Visitors can step inside and picture the family’s daily life in the 18th century-perhaps the smell of bread baking in the old stone oven-while the house also reveals the wider social and cultural life of Malta in that era.Over the years, careful preservation and restoration have kept its original charm and historic details intact.The Bernard family has worked hard to keep the house’s historical character intact, preserving its thick stone walls and ornate Baroque details so it remains a treasure for anyone fascinated by Malta’s architectural past.They continue to protect and maintain it for the future.Casa Bernard sits in the heart of Rabāt, just a short walk from the ancient city of Mdina.Rabāt, a charming village steeped in history, draws visitors from all over Malta.You can stroll from the town center to the house in just minutes, passing cobbled lanes and, nearby, explore landmarks like St. Paul’s Grotto, the Domus Romana, and the Wignacourt Museum.Because it sits right in the heart of town, Casa Bernard is a perfect stop for anyone exploring the area.Step through its doors and you’re instantly surrounded by the elegance and quiet grandeur of Malta’s Baroque-era noble life.With its graceful arches, ornate interiors, and a history that whispers through every stone, the house is a must-see for anyone drawn to Malta’s cultural and architectural heritage.Casa Bernard, with its intact stone arches, antique furniture, and blooming garden, tells the story of the Maltese nobility’s wealth during the Knights of St. John-and remains one of Rabat’s most distinctive landmarks.
