In a broad comparative perspective, based both on a re-reading of traditional historiography and on ongoing research, this paper presents a status quaestionis on the Order of the Hospital of St. John in two medium mountain areas : Haute-Provence (dioceses of Gap, Embrun and Sisteron) and the south of the Massif Central (dioceses of Saint-Flour and Mende). In these specific environments, did the establishment of the Hospitallers as well as their functions present any specificities? The question of the seigneurial power of the commanderies is left aside to focus on the issues that were at the very origin of an Order which was at first charitable and military. We therefore consider the location of the Hospitaller houses in connection with the urban infrastructure and communication links, the vocation of assistance and the possible maintenance of hospitality facilities, as well as the pastoral care of the faithful in areas that have been shaped by ecclesiastical reforms. Since it is difficult to go into in-depth considerations on the socio-economic structures that would distinguish Hospitaller commanderies in medium mountain, we will conclude with a few considerations on livestock farming. There lies perhaps, with the force of seigneurial domination, the main feature of the mountain commanderies.