Digne Les Bains (Alpes de Haute Provence)

Digne les Bains

Digne Les Bains (Alpes de Haute Provence) mini guide

Digne is the capital of the Alpes de Haute-Provence department, and the only city in the long stretch of mountains between Orange and Turin, it has one thriving boulevard of cafés and touristic shops mixed with smart shoe-shops, chocolate shops and bookshops.

Dignes les Bains dates back to the neolithic era and became a frequent commercial stop during the Roman era. Since then, the commune has been noted for being a principle center of the lavender trade.

Out of the town you will find the Foundation Alexandra David-Neel (27 Av du Marechal Juin), the former home of truly remarkable Frenchwoman who settled here in her 'Himalayas in miniature' after a lifetime exploring in Tibet. There are exhibitions of Tibetan culture, photographs and crafts on sale.

Geological attractions

Covering over 150,000 hectares to the north and east of Dignes, the Réserve Naturelle Géologique de Haute Provence is the largest geological reserve in Europe, with fossils dating back 300 million years. Centre de Géologie with extremely good videos, workshops, exhibitions on the reserve  and guided trips is located just north of the city. A couple of kilometres further along the Barles road you can see, on a bank to your left, a wall of ammonites.

• The Notre-Dame-de-Bourg Cathedral from the 13th-14th century
• Musée Gassendi located in 19th-centry hospice, is the old Musée Municipal presenting archeology, natural and regional history, scientific objects and paintings.

Thermal baths

The hot springs of Digne-les-Bains have been used since Antiquity, although they lost their popularity after the departure of the Romans.

The modern baths have been rebuilt and opened in 1982. They are still on the aptly-named Eaux-Chaudes (hot water) river 3 km southeast of the town. There are 8 hot springs (and one cold), flowing from the St Pancarace cliffs. The water contains sulfur, lime and calcium together with other minerals and is slightly radioactive. The baths are reputed to be to be good for respiratory problems and rheumatism. The water temperature is around 42 degrees centigrade.

Shopping

There is good shopping in central Digne, along the tree-lined Boulevard Gassendi and the pedestrian streets just beside.

A large shopping center is situated 5 away on the N85 road towards Sisteron/Champtercier.

Events

• Marché - Market day - every Sat (the 1st Sat of the month includes a foire)
• Fête de la Musique - in June
• Fete du Jazz - in July
• Theater Festival - théâtre des villes, théâtre des champs in July
• Large foire-market - 15th August on the Place du Tampinet near the round-about by the river
• Journées Lavande - in August
• Corso de la Lavande - great celebrations on first weekend of August