Hospitaller commandery of Saint-Jean-d’Acre 🇮🇱

You can step directly into Crusader history at the Hospitaller commandery of Saint-Jean-d'Acre in Acre, Israel. Founded by the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (the Knights Hospitallers), this monumental fortified complex served as the Order's headquarters during the 13th century until the city fell in 1291.

When you visit, you will explore a remarkably preserved medieval site shaped by extensive late 12th- and 13th-century construction. Walk around the 1,200-square-meter inner courtyard, flanked by arcades, ancient wells, and pools. Head into the formidable north wing, where you will see ten 10-meter-high vaulted chambers behind a massive 3.5-meter-thick defensive wall, along with an underground vaulted drainage channel that once linked to the harbor.

Don't miss the grand refectory in the south wing—a massive hall featuring two naves, three huge piers, 10-meter-high rib vaults, and decorative fleur-de-lys corbels linked to King Louis VII's 1148 visit. You can also trace fragments of the west and east wings beneath later Ottoman structures like the Kışla barracks, plus the vaulted crypts, Gothic masonry, and mosaic flooring of the former Saint-Jean church.

What to see at Hospitaller commandery of Saint-Jean-d'Acre

• The 1,200 m² central courtyard enclosed by arcades, featuring historical wells, pools, and an eastern staircase.
• The formidable North Wing with its 3.5-meter-thick defensive wall, ten 10-meter-high vaulted chambers, and vaulted harbor drainage channel.
• The massive South Wing refectory boasting 10-meter rib vaults, three huge piers, and fleur-de-lys corbels.
• Medieval fragments of the West and East wings preserved beneath 18th–19th-century Ottoman Kışla barracks.
• Vaulted crypts, mosaic flooring, and Gothic masonry fragments of the ancient Saint-Jean church.

Visiting tips

Take time to examine the refectory's corner corbels to spot the fleur-de-lys emblem associated with King Louis VII's 1148 visit.

How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Early morning

How to get there & what’s nearby

Hospitaller commandery of Saint-Jean-d'Acre is easy to reach on Acre’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Jezzar Pasha Mosque and Ghetto Fighters' House. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Acre travel guide.