Nice to Alps Train

The Chemins de Fer de Provence line was carved into existence between 1890 and 1911, threading through rock faces and bridging river gorges that made road access nearly impossible. What began as an economic lifeline for isolated mountain communities now carries a different cargo: travelers seeking the transition zone where Mediterranean scrub gives way to alpine pine. The railway departs from the Gare de Provence in Nice, a modest terminus tucked behind the main SNCF station. Diesel railcars handle the regular service, stopping at 26 stations over the course of the route to Digne-les-Bains. The track climbs steadily through the Var valley, passing Entrevaux's fortified walls and the narrow defile at Pont de Gueydan before reaching Puget-Théniers at kilometer 68. Here the heritage steam locomotive waits at the depot on Avenue Alexandre Barety, fired and ready for its seasonal run. The steam service operates as a separate experience within the larger rail network. Passengers board at Puget-Théniers and ride behind a restored locomotive to Annot, a market town surrounded by sandstone formations. The journey covers 20 kilometers in roughly 90 minutes, including photo stops where the train pauses on viaducts above the valley floor. The steam engine runs only three days each week during the operating season, and capacity is limited by the number of vintage carriages in service. Beyond Annot, the diesel service continues to Digne through higher terrain, crossing the Col de Toutes Aures at 1,024 meters. The full nice to alps train route climbs more than 600 meters from sea level, moving through four distinct vegetation zones. The railway remains one of the few metric-gauge lines still operating in France, a technical decision made during construction to navigate the tight curves and steep gradients that standard track could not manage.