Musée de la Vallée

Parc National du Mercantour


Surrounded by a fine public park, this intriguing museum explores the valley's history. Highlights include a fascinating collection of Bronze Age arrowheads, axes, rings and bracelets, various exhibits relating to the adventurous naturalist Émile Chabrand, and some fine pieces of Mexican art brought back by the town's emigrés.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Parc National du Mercantour attractions

1. Fort de Tournoux

7.47 MILES

Originally built to protect the French border from invasion, and later used as part of the Maginot Line during WWII, this hillside fortress 18km northeast…

2. Lac d’Allos

10.98 MILES

It’s worth the trek (and metered traffic) to reach Europe's largest alpine lake, Lac d’Allos (2226m; inaccessible fall to spring). From Allos, narrow,…

3. Colmars-les-Alpes

14.3 MILES

With its towers, turrets and ramparts, this medieval village looks like a relic from a Monty Python film set. In the late 14th century, the valleys around…

4. Réserve Géologique de Haute-Provence

20.73 MILES

It's hard to believe, but millions of years ago the Alps sat at the bottom of a vast temperate sea, leaving behind millions of fossils pressed into the…

5. Gorges de Daluis

26.04 MILES

This stunning network of scarlet gorges looks for all the world like it's been collected from Arizona and plonked down in Haute-Provence. Carved out over…

6. Musée Promenade

28.58 MILES

Situated 2km north of Digne-les-Bains in St-Bénoît, en route to Barle, this museum and outdoor park features four trails that explore the region's geology…

7. Musée Gassendi

28.98 MILES

A rather oddball mix of exhibits are on show at Digne's main museum – from 19th-century Provençal paintings and natural history exhibits to contemporary…

8. Gorges du Cians

29.03 MILES

This valley lies east of the Gorges du Daluis. It's a dramatic drive, but perhaps lacks the scenic wow-factor of its neighbour – but if you combine the…