The Saint-Pancrace Chapel in Digne

An easy, often shaded walk for the whole family. Superb view of Digne and its thermal baths from the belvedere.

Details

75680
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.38 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 192 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 190 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 881 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 689 m

Photos

Description of the walk

The starting point is a car park 800 metres after the Dignes thermal baths.

(S/E) Take the track marked in yellow opposite the car park. After 500m (8 minutes) you will come to a gate (pasture), which you should close behind you. After passing a water collection/weather station, you will reach an area of black marl where vegetation is very sparse. At the beginning of this area, there is a fork to the right.

(1) Ignore it and cross the black marl area to the north to enter a wooded area.

(2) 800 metres from the start, at a fork, there is a structure with a circular opening housing a huge cairn.

This is the work of Andy Goldsworthy, a British artist who creates sculptures integrated into specific urban or natural sites.

Continue along the yellow route under the oak trees, then after a short descent, the path climbs again. After a brief rest (1.4 km), the path climbs again to reach a wayside shrine (1.7 km - 840 m)
Continue along the yellow trail and after 300m of climbing, you will first see a mast, which marks the viewpoint, then a little below, the Saint-Pancrace Chapel.

(3) Continue towards the viewpoint (short but very steep trail) where the view is magnificent (2 km - 884 m).
Return via the same route (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 689 m - Parking is available 800 metres after the Dignes thermal baths
  2. 1 : km 0.48 - alt. 746 m - Fork in the road to the left
  3. 2 : km 0.82 - alt. 762 m - Cain, work by Andy Goldsworthy
  4. 3 : km 2.2 - alt. 880 m - Saint Pancras Chapel
  5. S/E : km 4.38 - alt. 691 m - Parking is available 800 metres before the Dignes thermal baths

Notes

The water points at the chapel are rainwater collection points and are not drinkable.
Picnic tables surround the chapel.

Worth a visit

The Saint Pancrace Chapel is currently being restored.
The work was initially carried out under the auspices of the Association des Amis du Pays Dignois (Friends of the Dignois Region Association) and then, from August 2003, under the more specific auspices of the Association des Rénovateurs de Saint-Pancrace (Saint Pancrace Renovation Association).
See the chapel's website: http://saint-pancrace-digne.pagesperso-o...

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 25 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Christian13
Christian13

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Very pretty route, without any particular difficulties.
Very beautiful view of the chapel.

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GHISL83AL
GHISL83AL

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

a lovely climb with beautiful views of Digne and the thermal baths

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Christian13
Christian13

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful short hike with a magnificent view from the chapel.

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User 7544127

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The hike is very accessible and interesting, with stops at a work of art, an oratory and a chapel with a beautiful view.

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atraver
atraver

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

parish specific to Brittany

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bernardino
bernardino ★

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful outing offering a unique view of the town of Digne. Many thanks to the associations that have carried out significant renovation work on the chapel, as well as on the oratory of Saint Pancras located just before you reach the chapel.

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Ourika
Ourika

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with the added bonus of a magnificent view and a beautiful little chapel at the top!

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ALTMANYOSSEF
ALTMANYOSSEF

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 10, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful view from above. A short family walk.

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bibigre
bibigre

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant short hike on a trail close to the city but still mountainous.

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Paul&Jenni
Paul&Jenni

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 22, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant short walk to stretch your legs after lockdown. Lovely view from the viewpoint. 'Family-friendly' does not mean you can take a pushchair. Trainers are a bit tight, light walking shoes are recommended.

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rolande djouadi
rolande djouadi

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

a good climb, but if you continue on to the St Madeline cave and the Riou waterfall, it becomes dangerous

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P. Girardet
P. Girardet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 06, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

a very pleasant walk with the added bonus of rare and beautiful orchids to photograph along the way. Stunning panoramic views and a lovely chapel to reward your efforts.

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fontaine genevieve
fontaine genevieve

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 01, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

beautiful hike, very well marked... different landscapes and a beautiful view. Benches allow you to stop and enjoy the scenery

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jcmp3
jcmp3

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 30, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

This route is particularly worth doing in October, when the autumn colours are magnificent.
The best place to start is to park in the small car park about 800 metres after the thermal baths (at the Col des Aires)

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dnalor05
dnalor05

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A great start to the Dourbes bar circuit

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