The first Gothic building in Provence, the Saint-Jean-de-Malte church of Aix-en-Provence was erected at the end of the 13th century. Formerly located outside the city, it was built on the remains of an old chapel of the Hospitallers.
Now occupied by the Fraternity of Apostolic Monks, the church is regularly open revealing to visitors a unique architecture that seduces with its impressive luminosity.
Behind a fairly severe facade with a large four-meter rose window, the interior is also very sober. However, it is possible to discover large paintings by masters including the Resurrection of Christ by Louis Finson, The Apotheosis of Saint Augustin by Michel Serre or Christ on the Cross by Eugène Delacroix.
Listed as a Historic Monument, the one that houses the tombs of the Counts of Provence also unveils an impressive bell tower nearly seventy meters high, making it the highest point in the whole of Aix-en-Provence.
Next door, the former priory now houses the Granet museum dedicated to the fine arts.
