Lulled by the clackety-clack of the train on the tracks, you gaze out at the landscape through the large picture windows. Terraces dotted with olive and chestnut trees, the Verdon River and its emerald-green lake, hilltop villages, the violet hues of the lavender fields, the snow-capped mountains of the Upper Verdon Valley, and the sandstone cliffs of Annot all pass by in succession. While the journey itself is an adventure, the villages of Entrevaux, Annot, Saint-André-les-Alpes, Barrême, and others are well worth a stop.
The distance between rails is one meter, whereas the standard gauge is 1.435 m. This choice made it possible to create tighter curves to adapt to the steep terrain, thus lowering construction costs.
From the comfort of your own home, take time to admire the scenery from the large picture windows.
Hiking, mountain biking, climbing, paragliding – your favorite activities await you at the end of the quay.
Choose the train—it’s an eco-friendly mode of transportation, perfect for exploring our most beautiful villages!
The Nice-Digne railway line was a project conceived in 1861 by engineer Alphonse Beau de Rochas, but it was not completed until 1890. This railway line required massive engineering efforts, including the construction of the La Colle-Saint-Michel Tunnel, and was completed in 1911, connecting Nice to Digne-les-Bains.
To adapt to the steep terrain, particularly between Entrevaux and Barrême, a large number of engineering structures have been built. These bridges, viaducts and retaining walls are what make the line so beautiful today.
At the village of Le Fugeret, the route becomes S-shaped to gain altitude: the slope is too steep for a straight line. So you’re looking at the same village twice.
Over the decades, the line has experienced its ups and downs, particularly during the world wars and in the face of threats of closure. To preserve and promote this historic line, the Provence Railways Study Group (GECP) was founded in 1980, and today it operates the Train des Pignes steam train, a tourist attraction on a line that, the rest of the time, is used by the railcar connecting Nice to Dignes-les-Bains via the Sud – Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region.
Regular service every day of the year, with three round trips daily between Nice and Digne-les-Bains, plus one daily round trip between Nice and Annot.
Tickets can be purchased at the station. For optional stops where there is no stationmaster, signal to the driver to stop, and the ticket will be issued on the train by the ticket inspector.
All information on roadworks and traffic restrictions
Dogs are allowed under certain conditions.
Nice station – 04 97 03 80 80
Digne les Bains train station – 04 92 31 01 58
To access onboard announcements, real-time schedules, traffic updates, and the fare schedule, download the “Chemins de Fer de Provence” app, available onthe App Store and Google Play.
Les chemins de fer de Provence welcomes people with all kinds of disabilities, subject to prior reservation.
Activities, dining, sightseeing or accommodation…find out about the offers concocted especially for you by Chemins de Fer de Provence.
Combine the trip with a regular return train (Nice – Puget-Théniers)
with a ride on the
Train des Pignes à Vapeur
(departing from Puget-Théniers).
Preparing well
Plongez au cœur du Verdon grâce à notre magazine :
✅ Villages de caractère, grands espaces, saveurs locales
✅ Nature sauvage, lacs et rivières
✅ Les grands événements et les incontournables
