Gorges du Guil is a scenic balcony road in France
Gorges du Guil is a very scenic canyon located in the Hautes-Alpes department of France. It’s one of the defiant French balcony roads.
Where are the Gorges du Guil?
The gorges, also known as Gorges du Queyras and Combe du Queyras, are located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, in the southeastern part of the country.
When was the road through the Gorges du Guil built?
Set high within the Parc Naturel Régional du Queyras, the road was built between 1905 and 1911. The road is narrow in parts, and short rock tunnels alternate with exposed passages that are only edge-secured with a low wall. The road has a high risk of rock slides.
How long is the road through the Gorges du Guil?
The road through the gorges carved by the Guil river is totally paved. It’s called D902. It’s 19.7 km (12.24 miles) long, running south-north from Guillestre to Arvieux.
How many tunnels do you need to cross on the road through the Gorges du Guil?
The road has 4 tunnels: Tunnel de la Maison du Roy, Tunnel de Roches Brunes, Tunnel de Roches Violettes (the longest tunnel: 320m. It was built in 1949 after the collapse of the cliff which carried the road during the floods of 1948) and Tunnel de Montgauvie (also built in 1949 after the collapse of the cliff which carried the road during the floods of 1948).
How long does it take to drive the road through the Gorges du Guil?
To drive the road without stopping will take most people between 25 and 30 minutes. The Gorges du Guil provide a gateway to the Queyras and are truly impressive. The gorge overlooks the Guil River, one of the top venues for white-water sports in the Alps.