French balcony roads

[Wapping]

In 2021, some of the most notable "French balcony roads" included the Route de Presles Balcony Road in the Drome and Isere region, known for its craggy tunnels with stunning views, the Gorges du Cians road in the Alpes Maritime, and the Combe Laval Balcony Road which are all considered scenic drives with dramatic cliffside sections and incredible panoramic views;often featuring roads carved directly into the rock face with tunnels and overhangs.

Here’s links to and videos of the three most popular ‘Must do’ balcony roads mentioned above:

Route de Presles is a balcony road in France

Route de Presles is a challenging mountain road located in the Is

www.dangerousroads.org

Gorge du Cians is a balcony road in France

Gorge du Cians is a very scenic canyon with stunning red rocks lo

www.dangerousroads.org

Discover the Majestic Combe Laval: A Spectacular French Balcony Road

Frequently recognized as the most magnificent road in the French

www.dangerousroads.org

This link has more than enough. Scroll down and tap on the blue names, then additional details will pop up. You’ll probably not do them all in one two week holiday:

What are the most spectacular Balcony Roads in France? Top 87

Explore France’s balcony roads: narrow mountain routes carved int

www.dangerousroads.org

You’ll have to do a little bit of work to map all 81 out, but hey it’s your holiday.

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See also this thread: https://www.ukgser.com/community/threads/french-balcony-roads.445009/#post-5676957

 

[Northern jock]

That should give folk something to aim for on their next meander.

I always feel it’s best to be on the inside of these roads, then it goes round a hairpin and you get the edge again.

I was watching Itchy (love or hate as appropriate) last night going along one in Turkey, not a road you’d want to be pushed near the edge to pass someone. Fortunately no other traffic.

 

[Wapping]

Some of them appear on ‘Mr and Mrs and the hound take their wobbly box’ websites and forums. None of the Mr or Mrs look very brave

 

[Posh Pete]

Bookmark

 

[Mad Hatter]

I once came across the Combe Laval by accident. I was happily riding along in high alpine pasture type territory exploring sans map and the next second it was like riding off a cliff and onto a road with a 2ft high guard wall and a 1000ft drop to certain death on the other side. I wasn’t prepared for it at all and it frightened the life out of me. It’s proper exposed and scary at the top!

 

[Pukmeister]

Top tip: don't take somebody along in your riding group that is afraid of heights.

You'd think they'd have considered their phobia become agreeing to come.

 

[leadfarmer]

Not my thing either, some of them scare the bejeesus out of me

 

[Wapping]

Combe Laval Balcony Road ~ Best Drives in France

Wow! The Combe Laval Balcony Road drive in our Sprinter 4x4 Campervan is just fabulous, a hair-raising route in an incredible part of France.

campervancastaways.com

 

[er-minio]

Combe Laval is beautiful. Done it a few times passing across.

Gorge du chains, mostly the nearby area, are also discussed here (to add more info on the rest of the roads up there that are spectacular): https://www.ukgser.com/community/threads/french-alps-but-maybe-germany-too.374828/#post-5344814

 

[diplomaticdanny]

What are the most spectacular Balcony Roads in France? Top 87

Explore France’s balcony roads: narrow mountain routes carved int

www.dangerousroads.org

Found a few on here for one of our trips.

 

[diplomaticdanny]

Top tip: don't take somebody along in your riding group that is afraid of heights.

You'd think they'd have considered their phobia become agreeing to come.

I thought Jamie did pretty good considering!

 

[Pukmeister]

I thought Jamie did pretty good considering!

Nige isn't too keen though, and Dave didn't care much for the Pyrenees roads either.

That trip to the balcony roads was probably my favourite of our trips, especially the Col Du Galabier (?) road with that French supermotard lunatic.

Just a shame about the one rainy afternoon in the Gorge Du Verdun following that fecking Volvo. If we'd been luckier with the weather that day it would have been just perfect.

EDIT: It was the Col De Rousset, near the aptly named town of "Die".

 

[Ectopic]

Not my thing either, some of them scare the bejeesus out of me

Weirdly, I never used to have an issue with heights. Whether in the car, on the bike or on foot, it never really bothered me. In more recent years I had become aware of the heights, but still not particularly worried.

Then in 2022 we were touring on the bike and rode up the road from Cazorla in Spain. As we rode along I took a few glances over the edge and it made my stomach lurch. It just got worse and worse after that. No explanation for this developing fear. For the rest of that tour, and every trip since, I have been worried by roads with big drops. Also by footpaths, balconies (outside a hotel, rather than balcony roads). It's entirely irrational but very real...