The Promenade Museum In Digne: A Walk For The Whole Family

As its name indicates, the Musée Promenade de Digne-les-Bains is not a museum in the classical sense of the term! It is rather a place of stroll, where one can walk in family while discovering nature and works of contemporary art.

A museum and four trails

The Promenade Museum, located in the commune of Digne-les-Bains inside the Haute-Provence Geopark, lives up to its name.

More than just a museum, it is an open-air walkplace, crisscrossed by 4 discovery trails.

Each of these trails can be covered in about 15 minutes. The walk is easy and accessible to the whole family.

However, people with reduced mobility can use the asphalt road (forbidden to vehicles, except for service vehicles). They can also ask to access the Maison des Remparts by car.

To note: hiking enthusiasts can reach the Walking Museum by taking the Caguerenard trail. This hike through the forest takes 45 minutes. The starting point is behind the Tourist Office of the city of Digne-les-Bains and the trail follows the course of the Bléone River offering nice views of the city and the river below.

A place full of surprises and discoveries

The thematic paths of the Promenade Museum are an invitation to discovery.

Upon arriving in the park grounds, you will first discover a pretty little Japanese garden rather unexpected in this mountain setting.

Copyright : Audrey Vautherot

You will then take the Water Trail. All along this shaded path, you will be lulled by the sound of running water flowing down from the top of the hill.

Your walk will be lined with contemporary artworks like The Teapot Fountain pictured below.

Copyright: Audrey Vautherot

But the highlight of the show was not created by human hands. It is the Great Cascade which was formed naturally by the Saint-Benoît spring.

Copyright: Audrey Vautherot

Continue your climb on Le Sentier des Remparts which climbs the 13th century walls. Enjoy the view of the surrounding mountains before visiting the Maison des Remparts.

Two exhibition buildings to discover

Even though the visit to the promenade museum in Digne takes place mostly outdoors, to the delight of walkers and families, this place also houses two exhibition buildings.

The first is the contemporary art center CAIRN, located near the entrance of the park and unfortunately closed during my visit.

The second is La Maison des Remparts, which offers several exhibition rooms dedicated to fossils, marine biodiversity of yesterday and today, and temporary exhibitions on the theme of nature.

You will discover ammonites (those famous snail-shaped fossils typical of the Digne region) as well as other kinds of rocks and fossils.

Copyright: Audrey Vautherot

After this journey through time, the discovery of tropical aquariums will offer you a colorful interlude very exotic.

Copyright : Audrey Vautherot

To end your visit on a high note, take The Butterfly Trail to learn about local lepidopterans.

In the park, more than 139 species of butterflies move freely.

Note, however, that these wild butterflies won't show up if the weather is rainy. They only fly when the sun is shining.

Practical information

The Promenade Museum is located in the town of Digne-les-Bains, but a little away from the town center.

It can be reached on foot by the Caguerenard path (a marked hiking trail) or by car via the departmental road.

Address
Walking Museum
Montée du parc Saint-Benoît
04000 Digne-les-Bains

Tel : 04 92 36 70 70

Hours
- Open every day from 9am to 7pm in July and August
- Open every day from 9am to 12pm and from 2pm to 5:30pm in April, May, June, September, October and November.

Fees
- Full price: €8
- Reduced rate (with the Museum Pass, students and seniors): €6
- Children's rate from 7 to 14 years old: 5 €.
- Unemployed rate: €3.50
- Culture Pass: 20 € (with the Museum Pass)
- Family subscription: 35 €.