Crypte Archéologique Notre Dame du Bourg

The result of three excavation campaigns, the Archaeological Crypt of Notre-Dame du Bourg reveals traces of construction on the exact site of the origins of the town of Digne, covering 870 m².

In 1980, while long works were being undertaken to save and consolidate the Notre-Dame du Bourg cathedral, a first campaign of archaeological excavations (1987-1988) was carried out inside the building to help with the restoration of the religious building. The first discoveries revealed, among other things, the presence of a large-scale place of worship with traces of its liturgical facilities, whose use lasted from the 5th to the 11th century. These very promising results will inevitably lead to the extension of the research to two other sectors, outside the town.
Thus, the first small Christian church at the end of the 4th century – beginning of the 5th century and ancient walls from the 1st to the 3rd century will attest to an ancient settlement in the Bourg district.

What is spectacular here is that the traces of the constructions span almost fifteen centuries and that the strong rise in the ground which occurred over time, sometimes up to six metres high, has allowed the remains to be remarkably well preserved.

The creation of this museum was only possible thanks to the launch of an ambitious conservation and development plan for the ancient heritage of the Provence-Alpes Côte d’Azur region. The extent and interest of the archaeological discoveries motivated the partners to develop the crypt and make it accessible to the public.

Duration of the visit: 1h30, either freely thanks to 23 explanatory panels. Audio guide in French and English. The “DignArkeo” application is available on a tablet or can be downloaded free of charge and carried on a smartphone in French, Italian or English.

The Crypt staff can also provide a free guided tour of the cathedral for a group on reservation.