Digne-les-Bains

Name

First record, First record, 1st-century: Dinia; 780 Digna

Gallo-Roman: Situated where the Bléone river, joined by the smaller Mardaric and Eaux-Chaudes, cuts through steep mountain ridges, this was a strategic site between Provence and the Alps and occupied throughout Antiquity. Pliny the Younger (62-114) wrote that Dinia was the capital of the Bodiontici or Brodiontii, a people conquered by Augustus in 14 BC.

Medieval: During barbarian invasions in the 6th century, fortifications were built in a protected little valley to the northeast (Notre-Dame du Bourg) and on hilltops overlooking the current town. The fortifications have pretty-much disappeared, with just a few ramparts remaining.
The lower town (cité) and the Bourg were ruled separately until the 15th century; the cité by the Counts of Provence and the Bishops of Digne; the Bourg by the provost of the church of Digne.
Digne suffered severely from the Wars of Religion, with invasions, massacres and destruction occurring four successive times between 1562 and 1595. Of the population that survived and recovered from the religious wars, 85% died from the plague of 1629.
In 1851 the peasants revolted against Napoleon III (Louis Napoléon Bonaparte) who occupied Digne as the seat of his provisional government; he became emperor the following year.

Market day: Sat. The 1st Sat of the month market includes a foire

June - Fête de la Musique
July - Fete du Jazz
July - Theater Festival- théâtre des villes, théâtre des champs
Aug - Journées Lavande - Lavender festival
Aug (15th) - Large foire-market, on the Place du Tampinet
Aug (1st weekend) - Corso de la Lavande - Lavander celebrations!

• GPS: 44.091006, 6.231478

Maps

IGN (1/25,000) #3440 ET "Digne-les-Bains"

Didier Richard (1/50,000) #19 "Haute Provence Verdon"

There's great hiking all around Digne but, because of the nature of the mountains, a lot of the hiking is pretty steep. The best bet is to have a look at the Didier Ricard maps and pick one of the many trails available. We once took the Train des Pignes from Nice to Digne and then hiked back to Vence -- an unforgettable 5-day adventure. You can also take the Train des Pignes from Digne to a nearby village, hike for the day, and ride the train back again. The FFRP Guidebooks page lists a couple of "PR" guidebooks for the Prealpes de Dignes and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence.

The prices listed below are from our own experiences pre 2000, converted from French Francs.

Le France Brassiere-Restaurant

Lunch here: Filets de Rougets au Coulis de Langoustines - 11 € (a Mediterranean red fish, on a bed of rice and mushroom with lobster sauce). Poêlée de Noix de Saint Jacques au Caviar d'Aubergine, 13 € (scallops on a thick bed of chopped egg-plant).

Also have: Buffet de Hors d'Oeuvres, 8 €; Gourmet menus

Food is great. Service is very slow.

Petit Saint-Jean

restaurant has a warm and friendly welcome and a pleasant decor, with polished wooden beams. Service is also friendly and correct, but with only one waiter for the 12 tables, patience is required.

The soupe de pistou is superbe (kidney beans, green beans,rose beans, carrots, some noodles, onions, tiny dried tomatoes). Trout: pink, fresh and whole. Quail: also whole.

L'Origan

This Digne restaurant had a small dining room with windows on to the walking street. He cooks; she serves. Overall: excellent service: exceptional cuisine, excellent prices.

13 €: La Formule provencal.

15 €: Tarteflette d'olives et tomates et son soufflé de chèvre!!! or Lapin à la menthe (mint rabbit). 19 €: Aïoli froid de Cabillaud !!! or Rognonnade d'agneau à la farigoulette (lamb with stuffed baby squash).

Desserts are artistic, original and delicous.

Digne-les-Bains is an active sports center, with 2 swimming pools and 3 stadiums, and offering canoeing-kayaking, horseback riding, tennis and alpinism as well as good hiking.

Stage 17 of the 2015 cycling Tour de France departed from Digne-les-Bains.

Cordeliers Botanique Garden - Jardin Botanique des Cordeliers

A garden in "squares" typical of the middle ages, with over 350 aromatic and medicinal plants.

Location: Place des Cordeliers Avenue Paul Martin

Open: 15 Mar - 15 Nov: Mon-Fri, 9h-12h, 14h-18h July-Aug: Mon-Fri, 9h-12, 15h-19h

Closed: Weekends and holidays

Entry: Free

Tel: 0492 315 959

Web: www.ot-dignelesbains.fr/jardin-botanique.html

Musée Municipal

Prehistoric and Gallo-Roman archeology; paleonthology, entomology

Open: July-Aug: daily; Sept-June: Tue-Sun

Tel: 0492 314 529; Fax: 0492 32 38 64

WW II Museum - Musée de la Seconde Guerre mondiale

Presents the world war from Sept 1939 to Aug 1945, particularly as it affected the department of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. Installed in an old bomb shelter carved into the mountain.
Accessible to people of reduced mobility. Animals admitted. Free parking.

Location: Place Paradis

Open: Jully, Aug: Mon-Fri, 14h-17h (rest of the year by reservation)

Closed: Holidays

Entry: Free

Tel: 0492 312 895

Web: www.ot-dignelesbains.fr/musee-guerre.html

Alexandra David-Neel Museum - Musée Alexandra David-Neel

Location: 27 Ave Maréchal Juin (RN 85)

Open: All year. Guided visits at 10h, 14h, 15h30.

Entry: Free

Tel: 0492 313 238

Web: www.alexandra-david-neel.org

The museum is in the house where A. David-Neel lived; includes a book/gift shop.

Musée d'Art Religieux

Location: Chapelle des Pénitents, Place des Récollets

Tel: 0492 313 461

Gassendi Museum - Musée Gassendi

Located in 19th-centry hospice, this is the old Musée Municipal. It presents archeology, natural and regional history, scientific objects and paintings.

Location: 64 Bvd Gassendi

Open: April-Sept 11h-19h; Oct-Mar 13h30-17h30

Closed: Tuesdays

Entry: 4 € - Accepts the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence museum reduction card.

Tel: 0492 314 529

Email: musee.gassendi@laposte.net

Web: www.alexandra-david-neel.org

Géoparc de Haute-Provence

Stroll in a geological reserve of fossils, in a park full of waterfalls and streams. Aquariums of tropical and Mediterranean fish alongside their ancient fossils. Also a Butterfly Garden.

Open: Apr-June, Sept-Oct: 7/7; 9h-12h, 14h-17h30 (-16h30 fridays)
July-Aug Weekdays: 9h-13h, 14h-19h
July-Aug Sat-Sun: 10h-12h30, 14h-18h30
Ticket office Weekdays: 9h-12h, 13h30-17h
Ticket office Sat-Sun: 9h30-12h30, 13h30-17h30

Entry: Museum, promenade: 4.60 euros; 2.75 euros kids
Butterfly tour: 7.00 euros; 4.00 euros kids

Tel: 0492 367 070

Email: resgeol@calvanet.fr

Web: www.resgeol04.org

Musée de la Guerre 1939-1945

Location: Place Paradis

Tel: 0492 312 95

The Train des Pignes is one wonderful way to get to Digne-les-Bains [Train des Pignes map].

Bus Marseille - Digne - Barcelonnette

• The Marseille - Digne-les-Bains - Barcelonnette bus route is: Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, Meyrargues, Peyrolles, Mirabeau, Corbières, Sainte Tulle, Manosque, Volx, Villeneuve, La Brillanne, Oraison, Les Pourcelles, Dabisse, Peyruis, Les Mées, Malijai, Mallemoisson, Aiglun, Digne-les-Bains, La Javie, Col de Maure, Seyne-les-Alpes, Montclar, Saint Vincent, Barcelonnette.
     Trip time is 4 hrs (Marseille - Manosque 1h20; Manosque - Digne 1hr10; Digne - Barcelonnette 1h30).
     The route and schedule is available on the SCAL-Autocars website (link just below).
• Web: www.scal-amv-voyages.com/ligne.htm

Department 04, Alpes-de-Haute Provence Buses

• See Beyond's Alpes-de-Haute Provence (04) Bus Schedules for downloading Alpes-de-Haute Provence bus-lines map and bus-line schedules [pdf for each line] (link for PDF files).

Digne, Aix-en-Provence, Marseille

• The schedule for the Digne-les-Bain, Aix-en-Provence, Marseille bus line is available via the Digne Office de Tourisme website. The route includes stops: Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, Meyrargues, Peyrolles, Mirabeau, Corbières, Sainte Tulle, Manosque, Volx, Villeneuve, La Brillanne, Oraison, Les Pourcelles, Dabisse, Les Mées, Malijai, Mallemoisson, Aiglun, Digne-les-Bains. Trip time is 2h10 (1hr Marseille - Manosque, and 1h10 Manosque - Digne-les-Bains).
• Web: www.ot-dignelesbains.fr/garedigne_busdigne-rubrique-26-FR-DIGNE_LES_BAINS.html

Nice - Gap Bus

• There are two buses a day between Nice and Gap, with the route Nice - Digne-les-Bains - Sisteron, and Sisteron - Gap.
  Northbound: Nice 7h00, Digne 10h10, Sisteron 11h00, Gap 11h45.
        Nice 14h50, Digne 17h40, Sisteron 18h45, Gap 19h40.
  Southbound: Gap 8h05, Sisteron 9h10, Digne 9h50, Nice 12h40
        Gap 15h28, Sisteron 16h30, Digne 17h25, Nice 2030
   
  The Nice - Gap bus route is: Nice, Plan-du-Var, Touet-sur-Var, Puget-Thenier, Entreveaux, Annot-Scaffarel, Rouaine, Saint Julien, St André-les-Alpes, Moriez, Barreme, Norante, Chateau-Redon, Digne-les-Bains, Mallemoisson, Malijai, Chateau-Arnoux, Volonne, Peipin, Bons Enfants, Sisteron, Le Poet, Rourebeau, Beynon, Valenty, Monetier-Allemont, Le Vivas, La Saulce, Tallard, Chateauvieux, La Tourronde, Gap.
   
  (Schedule link http://www.scal-amv-voyages.com/horaires/circuit9.htm) The routes and schedules are available on the SCAL-Autocars website (link below); select Nice / Gap and click on one symbol to view the route map, click on the other symbol for the schedule.
   
  At Nice, the bus terminal is at 16 ave des Diables Bleus (Tramway stop Palais des Expositions)
• Web: www.scal-amv-voyages.com/ligne.htm

Riez - Digne-les-Bains Bus

• The Riez - Digne-les-Bains bus line has several buses a day; trip time about 1 hr. Schedule available via the Riez town website (see Beyond's Riez page). Stops: Riez, Puimoisson, La Bégude, Bras-d'Asse, Estoublon, Mézel, Chateauredon, Digne-les-Bains.