Digne

Digne or Digne-les-Bains, city (1990 pop. 17,425), capital of Alpes-de-Haute, Provence dept., SE France, in Provence. Points of interest include the Notre-Dame-de-Bourg Cathedral (13th-14th cent.) and a museum housing Gallo-Roman artifacts. On the outskirts of the city is a spa with thermal baths.

Digne-les-Bains or simply and historically Digne (Occitan: Dinha in classical norm or Digno in Mistralian norm) is a commune of France, capital of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department.

History

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 primary center of the lavender trade.

Ecclesiastical history

Digne was evangelized by Saints Domninus and Vincentius who came from Africa in the second half of the 4th century with St. Marcellinus, the Apostle of Embrun, and the town became the centre of a diocese, the Diocese of Digne, whose bishops are seated at Digne Cathedral. The first historically known bishop was Pentadius who attended the Council of Agde in 506.

Miscellaneous

Victor Hugo's novel Les Misérables begins in Digne. The asteroid 10088 Digne was named after the town by its discoverer, Belgian astronomer Eric Walter Elst.

Points of interest

• Jardin botanique des Cordeliers

Twin Towns

• Bad Mergentheim, Germany
• Borgomanero, Italy

Famous People

• Alain Boghossian, French Footballer, part of the French National side that won the FIFA World Cup 1998
• Pierre Gassendi, French philosopher, scientist, astronomer/astrologer
• Alexandra David-Néel, French explorer, spiritualist, writer
• Alphonse Beau de Rochas, French engineer

See also

• Chemins de Fer de Provence
• Route Napoléon

Sources and external links

• City council website (in French)
• Tourist office website (in French)
• Picture of Digne Cathedral
• Map and Information