The Musée Gassendi is Digne's main museum and a surprisingly good one — named after the 17th-century philosopher and astronomer Pierre Gassendi, who was born in the nearby village of Champtercier, it mixes local natural history, geology, and archaeology in the lower galleries with a collection of contemporary art that would not be out of place in a major city.
The contemporary collection is the unexpected pleasure. Works by Andy Goldsworthy, who spent time in the area making pieces from local materials, sit alongside pieces by other internationally recognised artists who have had residencies in Haute-Provence. The geological displays downstairs tie into the Réserve Géologique just north of town and give useful context before walking the reserve. The museum building is handsome and the staff knowledgeable.