Saint-Jean-de-Malte Church – Col des Portes loop from Aix-en-Provence

Bike touring routes & trails

France

Provence-Alpes-Côte D'Azur

Provence

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Saint-Jean-de-Malte Church – Col des Portes loop from Aix-en-Provence

Hard

4.3

(3)

708

riders

Saint-Jean-de-Malte Church – Col des Portes loop from Aix-en-Provence

03:01

44.3km

720m

Cycling

Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: October 7, 2026

Tips

Includes a segment in which cycling is not permitted

After 933 m for 108 m

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

987 m

Saint-Jean-de-Malte Church

Highlight • Religious Site

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.

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19.0 km

Col de Claps (530 m)

Highlight • Mountain Pass

Small mountain classification.

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21.4 km

Col des Portes

Highlight • Mountain Pass

High up and completely low-traffic but with some snappy climbs. However, the view is amazing and it is definitely worth it!

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27.0 km

Vauvenargues and the castle with Pablo Picasso's remains

Highlight • Other

Pablo Picasso lived from 1959 to 1961 in Vauvenargues Castle, which is located about 14 kilometers east of Aix-en-Provence. The 15th-century castle is located on a hill above the village of Vauvenargues. Picasso bought the property at the age of 77. Vauvenargues Castle offered Picasso a special view of the Montagne Sainte-Victoire, the favorite motif of his role model Paul Cézanne. Although Picasso only lived there for a few years, the castle has a special significance: he and his last wife Jacqueline Rocque are buried in the castle garden. The castle was not open to the public for a long time, but was opened to visitors for the first time in 2009.

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