Built at the end of the 13th century, the construction is said to have lasted from 1272 to 1277. The Saint-Jean-de-Malte church is the first Gothic building to be built in Provence and the only one entirely in this style in Aix.
Originally outside the city, in the middle of the fields, but close to an important thoroughfare, the Route d'Italie, its architecture is directly inspired by the innkeepers of Saint-Jean de Jérusalem, who gave it its name.
The building was indeed free of large openings, and the narrow loopholes on the two high octagonal towers on the facade still directly remind of the military order that provided protection and security to Christians during the Crusades.
The facade therefore has a strict appearance, which is alleviated by the large rosette with a diameter of 4 m. The simple and sober interior housed the burials of the Counts of Provence, which also explains the size of the building.
Three remarkable paintings by three great masters of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries can be found here: firstly, a Finsonius, which represents the resurrection of Christ, the oldest work by Louis Finson (1610) recorded in Provence, a painting by Michel Serre, The Apotheosis of St. Augustine, and finally a great Christ on the cross, painted by Eugène Delacroix.
The neighboring building, the former priory, has housed the Fine Arts Museum since 1838, known as the Granet Museum, one of the richest in the province. Since 1977, John of Malta has regained his monastic role by welcoming the fraternity of the apostolic diocesan monks of St. John of Malta.
In 2018 the three bells of the church were reattached. 225 years after his occupation as a gift to Napoleon.