The three chapels and the Rocher de Neuf-Heures in Digne-les-Bains

Two hills dominate the Bourg district of Digne-les-Bains. Here is a route that takes you to both in the same day. For those staying in Digne, it is nice to start directly from the town.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.86 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 536 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 535 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 886 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 599 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Updated November 2022 because access to Rocher de Neuf-Heures via the Digne campsite has been closed (see below). Park at the Bruno Castagna car park on Avenue Paul Martin.

(S/E) Turn right onto Avenue Paul Martin, and you will immediately arrive at the start of the hike on the right, marked with yellow signs. Enter at No. 18, then turn left and go through the white and red barriers. The path climbs gently through the undergrowth. You will soon arrive at the ruined Notre-Dame de Lourdes Chapel.

(1) A crude Lourdes grotto has been built under the chapel. Take the stairs on the left that lead up to the chapel itself. It is forbidden to enter as there is a risk of collapse. Then take the path on the right that climbs the most. It is a little steep but nothing terrible. A little higher up, you will find a wide, flat path and turn right. The Saint-Vincent Chapel is clearly visible at the end of a field.

(2) It is no longer in use. You can walk around it and see the ruined buildings behind it. To reach the summit from the Chapel of St Vincent, take the path that starts at the edge of the meadow opposite, not the two paths that branch off to the right. It is a short climb.

(3) The top of the hill is occupied by "La Croix", a stone chapel that was destroyed long ago. Enjoy the view. From the top, continue along the path you came from and a little further down, you will come to a sharp bend in the forest road. Go as far as possible straight ahead and then turn left (do not turn left immediately). At the bottom of a sharp bend is the start of a path that you need to take. Keeping the path on your right, you will rejoin the original path and return to the starting point (S/E).

This is the end of the "Three Chapels" section. The "Rocher de Neuf-Heures" section begins.

(S/E) Opposite the car park, take Avenue Paul Martin. Then go straight on Rue Étienne Martin.

(4) Turn right onto Rue de la Grande Fontaine. Then left onto Rue de l'Oratoire and left again onto Chemin du Pied-Cocu. This is where you leave the tarmac road.

(5) Turn right and start climbing towards Rocher de Neuf-Heures. There is only one path. 500 m higher up on the right, you will pass the sign for the start of the via ferrata (see Nearby).

(6) Summit of Rocher de Neuf Heures. Enjoy the view. The orientation table shows a few peaks. Turn around and follow the same path back to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 600 m - Bruno Castagna car park
  2. 1 : km 0.46 - alt. 677 m - Notre-Dame de Lourdes - chapel in ruins
  3. 2 : km 1.29 - alt. 794 m - Saint-Vincent Chapel
  4. 3 : km 1.68 - alt. 864 m - Summit of the Three Chapels
  5. 4 : km 4.04 - alt. 615 m - Common fork A/R
  6. 5 : km 4.28 - alt. 629 m - Common fork A/R towards Rocher de Neuf-Heures
  7. 6 : km 5.25 - alt. 886 m - Rocher de Neuf Heures
  8. S/E : km 6.86 - alt. 600 m - Bruno Castagna car park

Notes

This hike requires a little sense of direction on the Trois Chapelles hill.
It is suitable for the whole family.
Please note: it is impossible to descend from Rocher de Neuf-Heures to the Bourg campsite, as there is a barrier at the bottom. The following notice is posted at the bottom of the path leading from Rocher de Neuf-Heures: "Due to the uncivil behaviour and disrespect of certain hikers, the path from Rocher de Neuf-Heures crossing the private property of the campsite is closed."

Worth a visit

The Rocher de Neuf-Heures is the star attraction of Digne, and the flag planted at the summit is clearly visible from anywhere in the town centre.
And of course, the same is true in reverse: from the summit, there is a unique view of the town, and you can see almost every window.
Despite the modest altitude, you can also enjoy interesting views of the surrounding peaks and landscapes, which are superb.
Note for future adventures in Digne: one of the main natural attractions in the immediate vicinity of the town is the Via Ferrata du Rocher de Neuf-Heures.
During your descent, you will see the start of the path to the via ferrata on your left, with an explanatory sign.
This facility was renovated and extended in 2020 and opened to the public in May 2021. The extension now allows you to reach the summit. There are three routes of different lengths and therefore different levels of difficulty.
Payment and equipment hire are available at the Tourist Office.
Enjoy some wonderful moments in nature.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Thabor
Thabor

Thank you for your comment.
On 31 December 2025, I did indeed see from the town that there were new structures.
With the arrival of the via ferrata, I'm not surprised that access is being made safer, even if these railings on the peaks are really not my thing. Anyway, it's not a big deal as long as it doesn't block the view.
Thank you for this update.

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User 28287795

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 05, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, with a magnificent 360° view from the Rocher de Neuf Heures. It is entirely possible to do just one or the other of the routes. If you do both, it's best to do them in the suggested order, as the view gets better and better in that direction. The Rocher de Neuf Heures is currently being developed, and a platform has been built at the top to make access safer.
We hope to see an orientation table there soon.

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User 2620088

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant walk in the hills above Digne. Not technically difficult, but there are some steep climbs towards the rock at 9 o'clock. However, you are rewarded with beautiful views of the town and the surrounding hills.

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degavroche
degavroche

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I can confirm that climbing the rock at 9am is strictly prohibited from the campsite. So we only visited the three chapels. What a shame. We don't always read all the comments before setting off. Please could you amend the description.

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Françoise 04
Françoise 04

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike and very pretty

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Domy MARRA
Domy MARRA
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We only did thefirst part, i.e. the walk to the three chapels,
but the starting point on Avenue Paul Martin is not visible at all, because the path to take is on the right and the sign is on the left, but the arrow doesn't really indicate the path! We didn't see it at all, we went much further down Avenue Paul Martin, then even when we retraced our steps, we searched high and low for the start of the hike.

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FLOCH
FLOCH ★

Thank you for this review and the information about the campsite.
I will contact the author so that he can take this into account.
Kind regards

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ed04
ed04

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike,
VERY IMPORTANT: but we had to change the route because it is strictly forbidden to pass through the campsite (signs, CCTV, barrier, etc.)
so the route for the second part (9 o'clock rock) needs to be completely revised; you have to do it as a round trip starting from the town.

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Thabor
Thabor

Thank you for the important information about the campsite. It is clear that this would completely compromise the hike, ruling out the possibility of doing a circular.

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outteryck
outteryck

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 29, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Enjoy a pleasant hike with magnificent views close to Dignes.
Please note that the path from the campsite to Rocher de Neuf-heures may not be maintained next season. Check before setting off, or you may have to turn back.

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Thabor
Thabor

Thank you for this report.
I could have clarified that it is the path going up after the Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes.
So, when you're facing the grotto, you turn left to climb up in front of the chapel façade, then you turn around, walk a little further and take the steepest path on the right.
The climb from point 4 to the summit is inevitably in the shade at this time of year, as are all north-facing slopes. So I can imagine the ice rink...
I'm glad you enjoyed it. I like to suggest routes around Digne.

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glacier
glacier

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike undertaken by a senior couple.
After point 1 and the stairs, the "steepest path" is the one on the right...
The climb to La Croix chapel is short but steep...
After point 4, the climb to the 9 o'clock rock was quite icy, which is normal for the season.
The view from the 9 o'clock rock is truly superb.
A beautiful hike, we thoroughly enjoyed it.
Thank you to the author for sharing.

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