La Napoleon road follows the route taken in March 1815 by the Emperor, who left the island of Elba to reach the Capital and reconquer power. The Route Napoléon is therefore the section which connects Golfe Juan to Grenoble via Digne-les-Bains. Napoleon managed to cover 314 km in 6 days. He entered the Tuileries on March 20, 1815 in accordance with his predictions.
Napoleon at Digne
Approaching Digne, on March 4, 1815, he stopped at the hamlet of La Clappe (current D 20) and wanted to eat. His servants prepared an omelette that Napoleon found very expensive.
So eggs are so rare here? Napoleon was surprised, “No, not the eggs, but the emperors!” » replied the innkeeper.
Resuming its route towards Digne, a mule loaded with gold fell into a precipice and dropped its boxes. The soldiers collected what they could and the rest was recovered after much searching by the inhabitants of the valley.
The military column then passes in front of the thermal baths of Digne-les-Bains and enters the town where Saturday is market day. The path continues towards the Durance valley. Napoleon will stay the night of March 4 at Malijai Castle.
A tourist route
The Route Napoléon (RN 85), 314 km long, was named in 1932. It was previously called the Route des Alpes d'hiver, then the Route Napoléon, and remains one of the best access points for discovering particularly attractive natural landscapes.
This legendary route, a historic link between the Côte d'Azur, Haute-Provence and the Alps, invites you to discover activities in an exceptional environment, with very diverse heritage, off the beaten track.
The Route Napoléon crosses protected and preserved areas such as the Verdon Regional Natural Park ou UNESCO Geopark of Haute Provence and Haute Provence Geological Nature Reserve, places of transition between the Alps and Provence.
The Route Napoléon is also punctuated by renowned architectural heritage, such as the Notre Dame du Bourg Cathedral with her archaeological crypt in Digne-les-Bains.
Explore the villages…
…in the footsteps of Napoleon
By the paths
The Napoleon route on foot
The “Napoléon Walking Route” route is a 406 km long long-distance hiking trail (GR®165) linking Grasse (Alpes-Maritimes) to Sisteron (Alpes de Haute Provence). The FFRandonnée’s “La Route Napoléon on foot” topoguide describes this route.
This long-distance hiking route was inaugurated in July 2015 during the Bicentenary (1815-2015) of the Emperor's march towards Paris in 1815.
The route in Haute Provence passes through the following municipalities: Entrages, Digne-les-Bains*, Le Chaffaut St Jurson, Mallemoisson, Mirabeau, Malijai*, L’Escale and Volonne*.
* Napoleon’s stopover points in March 1815 to sleep or eat
The Napoleon route on horseback
The route of the “ Napoleon route on horseback », labeled “Grand Route Equestre”, is a 360 km long horse riding route. It covers marked paths designed for riders, linking Grasse (Alpes-Maritimes) to Vizille (Isère).
This Great Equestrian Route crosses 4 departments (Alpes Maritimes, Alpes de Haute Provence, Hautes-Alpes, Isère).
It is described in a map guide and on the following website: Route Napoleon on Horseback.
Make a stop…
…on the Napoleon road
