We have heard rave reviews about the Train des Pignes from Nice to Digne and back. The website is quite informative, but would like to hear from someone who has recently taken the trip. Question: can we do thecomplete roundtrip in one day (which is all we have), or should we only go part-way?

One way Nice-Digne only takes three hours so don't see why you cannot do it in one day. I think the trip is mainly for the scenery as much as anything as the train rises very quickly up into the hills/mountains...kinda like Switzerland but wqithout the spectacular mountains, etc.

Has anyone that has taken this trip stopped at any towns of interest along the way? Thanks

In Nov. '01 during a five day trip to Nice, I went on the Train des Pignes from Nice to Entrevaux and back, which is about a 90 minute ride. Entrevaux is a small walled town with a citadel on top. I spent around an hour and a half in the town and hiked to the top of the citadel and then took the train back to Nice. They have a website (in French). Information also available on provenceweb.fr. I had a busy itinerary so did not want to spend the whole day going to Dignes. I enjoyed the trip and felt it was a great adventure off the beaten path.
Mara

Many thanks to my correspondents. We'll go for the complete trip, and will send back a report when we get home (mid-July).