So what are these mysterious ceramic stars that guide you through the old center of Digne-les-Bains? Departing from Place du Général de Gaulle, it's up to you to find them and follow them for a family treasure hunt!
Discovering the St Vincent star trail
A 5-pointed star
A local emblem
This emblematic star represents a marine animal, called pentacrine or sea lily, which populated the Dignois seabed 180 million years ago. Pentacrines were first buried in layers of silt, then petrified and brought to the surface during the uplift of the earth's crust during the formation of the Alps. The Digne-les-Bains region is particularly well stocked with them.
Saint Vincent Hill
It was while going to observe the sky on St Vincent Hill that the famous astronomer and philosopher of the 17th century, Pierre Gassendi, made the discovery, hence the name St Vincent’s star. Over the years, it will become a good luck charm, a talisman which protects against curses and evils. Shepherds placed them in the walls or under the roofs of sheepfolds to protect themselves, particularly from lightning. From this little star legends will be born.
But it was in the 19th century that this small fossil, a few millimeters in diameter, became famous thanks to a Digne goldsmith. Antoine Colomb. In fact, in 1850 he had the idea of transforming this small black stone into jewelry. This piece of jewelry that quickly became fashionable will embellish family events: weddings, births, baptisms, etc. in the form of necklaces, brooches, earrings, cufflinks, tie pins, etc.
The star will then represent the city and its region and will have as famous ambassadors the poet Paul Arène (an entire poem is dedicated to him) or Jean Giono in his film “L’eau vive”. Today you can discover its history at the Gassendi museum and purchase a piece of jewelry made by jeweler Norbert Mille.
The course
Find the entire Route of the Star of Saint-Vincent by consulting the document below:
Star of Saint Vincent, Place Général de Gaulle
You will find the first star on the base of the Music kiosk.
The second star invites you to climb the stairs that lead to the course of the Ares located under the old ramparts which have now disappeared. You will climb the rue de la glacière and you will stop near the ice house where ice was once stored and sold in the summer to cool drinks, preserve food or treat medicine. This icehouse was built in the 17th century. A small explanatory panel will tell you its story. Right next to it is an old guard tower testifying to the location of the ramparts.
You will then mount the small rue St Michel to arrive at an old square and discover the old town hall on which the city’s coat of arms is located. This building now houses the music conservatory.
Always follow the direction of the stars to arrive market place. This was the heart of the castrum and in the 1826th century a very lively place where the market halls were located. A small panel tells you about the old fountain created by the Dignois artist Léon Mariaud in 1958 but unfortunately destroyed in XNUMX.
Star of Saint Vincent, market square
You are now at the eighth star. Go up the stairs to reach the square in front of the St Jerome Cathedral.
Built from 1490 to 1500 by Antoine de Guiramand, it will be enlarged in the 17th century by the construction of side chapels, then new work in the 19th century with the development of the main facade and the choir.
The facade is in neo-Gothic style with monumental sculptures that evoke the apocalypse and the symbols of the 4 evangelists announcing the good news. The cut stone rose window is a copy of that of Chartres Cathedral. The statue of the Virgin and Child which dominates the top of the square is by Joseph Marius Ramu.
You won't be able to remain indifferent to the stone gargoyles watching you.
At the beginning of the 17th century the clock tower will be raised by an iron cage surmounted by a cross and a weather vane (now disappeared) in its center will be placed the “bell of the consuls”. A stone parapet with a balustrade will be added to the initial tower which then increases from 25 to 31 meters high.
Star of Saint Vincent, cathedral tower, wash house, upper town street
Walking around the cathedral you discover the prison built at the beginning of the 19th century on the site of the old castle dismantled in the 16th century. Before the prison, the St Jean chapel and then the St Charles chapel were built. Stop at the sign giving you directions to the old castle well.
Go back down the stairs below the square to reach the Place de la Juiverie which testifies to the presence of a Jewish community at the end of the Middle Ages. Located in the oldest part of the medieval castrum, you arrive at the small square where there is the placet washhouse dating from the 1930s. Women came there to “bugade”.
After climbing the ramp, go up the fig tree street To find yourself at the foot of the “Maison St Charles” prison, follow the path which takes you through the narrow streets with houses next to each other. At the crossroads of the tower crossing and the ramp of the St Pierre terrace, you head towards the “upper town” street, then on the “upper town” square where the square towers constituted an observation point over the Bléone valley.
Star of Saint Vincent, Montée Saint Charles
Direction the street of the oven. This very narrow staircase alley typical of the 1987th century takes you back in time and takes you back to the Middle Ages because it has not changed much since that time. There was a bread oven there which was used until XNUMX! Go down, the alley ends on the town foot square where there was a fortified gate called the Porte de Gaubert, or Porte de Provence.
Take a right, go up the street City walk which runs along the medieval rampart from the outside.
A few meters later on your right, don't miss the climb of St Charles which takes you back to the foot of the remains of the medieval castle. At the top you will arrive at a picturesque place decorated by the local inhabitants with a Virginia creeper under which you can rest for a moment in the shade and drink from the crank fountain which is still running.
Arrived at the top of the rise of prisons you go back down this street to take on your left hubac street. You will find at 47 rue de l'hubac the house of Monseigneur de Miollis and opposite a panel telling you about the bishop and his link with Victor Hugo.
Star of Saint Vincent, hubac crosses the butcher's shop
At the crossroads of hubac street and the cross of the butcher's shop where a slaughterhouse stood around 300 years ago, you arrive at the end of this journey into the past. You are again on the Place du Général De Gaulle formerly called “le Pré aux foires”. In front of you is the town hall, a former Hospice of Charity built from 1700 to 1712 on the edge of one of the banks of the Mardaric, now covered. The building was raised two floors to become barracks in 1835 and took the name of a Dignois general, General Desmichels. The building acquired by the town hall in 1983 became the current town hall.