Digne-les-Bains: Andy Goldsworthy's Refuge d'art Anchors a Geological Art Trail in Haute-Provence
The "Refuge d'art" initiative by Andy Goldsworthy encompasses the Géoparc de Haute-Provence, a UNESCO World Heritage site covering 2,000 km² across 67 communes. He transformed an old residence in Vieil Esclangon into one of seven refuges, which are interconnected by a 150-km walking trail adorned with dry-stone cairns. This project inspired "L'Art en montagne," an off-site exhibition organized by the Musée Gassendi in Digne, showcasing works by Richard Nonas, Joan Fontcuberta, and others, along with 22 art hikes. At the Musée Promenade, Goldsworthy's five water cairns illustrate 300 million years of Earth's history. Sammy Stein's exhibition is scheduled from September 11 to November 1, 2026. The Musée Gassendi will remain closed until late 2027, while the Maison d'Alexandra David-Néel features Guimet+ exhibitions.
Key facts
- Andy Goldsworthy's "Refuge d'art" comprises seven refuges and three stone Sentinelles cairns across a 150-km walking route
- The Géoparc de Haute-Provence covers 2,000 km² and 67 communes and is UNESCO-labeled for geological heritage
- "L'Art en montagne," an off-site Musée Gassendi project, brings together about fifty works by Richard Nonas, Joan Fontcuberta, Lara Almarcegui and Mark Dion
- Goldsworthy's five water cairns in Parc Saint-Benoît date from 1998
- The Terres Noires ammonite slab holds over 1,500 fossils roughly 200 million years old
- Sammy Stein's Cairn exhibition runs September 11 to November 1, 2026
- David Rabinowitch created the liturgical ensemble at Notre-Dame-du-Bourg between 1995 and 1998
- The Musée Gassendi is closed for works until late 2027; Guimet+ shows at the David-Néel house run through October 31
Entities
Artists
- Andy Goldsworthy
- Richard Nonas
- Joan Fontcuberta
- Lara Almarcegui
- Mark Dion
- Sammy Stein
- Alexandra David-Néel
- Jean Perdrizet
- David Rabinowitch
- Pierre Gassendi
- herman de vries
- René Descartes
Institutions
- Musée Gassendi
- Cairn centre d'art
- Musée Promenade
- Géoparc de Haute-Provence
- UNESCO
- Musée national des Arts asiatiques – Guimet
- Guimet+
- Ligue pour la protection des oiseaux
- Beaux Arts Magazine
- Guide Michelin
- Relais & Châteaux
- Villa Gaïa
- Nusa
- Le Pressoir gourmand
- La Bonne Étape
- Train des Pignes
Locations
- Digne-les-Bains
- France
- Vieil Esclangon
- Vallée du Bès
- Haute-Provence
- Parc Saint-Benoît
- Vallée de la Bléone
- Barles
- Terres Noires
- Roche-Rousse
- Mézel
- Thoard
- Château-Arnoux-Saint-Auban
- Sisteron
- Marseille
- Aix-en-Provence
- Paris
- Nice
- India
- Tibet
- Nepal
- China
- Japan
- Afghanistan
- Pakistan
- Gandhara
- Gran Canaria
- Vienna