Gorges d'Omblèze, a French balcony road
Gorges d'Omblèze is a spectacular canyon carved into the limestone by La Gervanne river in the Drôme department in southeastern France. It’s one of the French balcony roads.
The gorges are traversed by the meandering D578 road. It’s totally paved and runs along a narrow canyon carved by La Gervanne river. It’s a road to die for (or die on, if you're not careful!). The road winds as a river, cutting snakes into the cliffs and runs as a single track road along the mountainside for some distance with nowhere to pass another vehicle. High risk off rock slides.
Completely surrounded by mountains and forests within the Parc naturel régional du Vercors, the staggering road is 8.1 km (5.03 miles) long, running west-northeast from Plan-de-Baix to Omblèze. It's normal for your palms to sweat looking at those photos, imagine what it must have been like before the barriers. This road raises everyone’s heartbeat. Remember to visit the waterfall of the Druise, an impressive 72 meter high waterfall.
This road is one of the most famous balcony roads in the country. A balcony road is a hair-raising lane cut into the sides of sheer cliffs. It’s a kind of road not for those who fear heights. There is little room for error on these roads. Drive with care as this is a mountain road with hairpin curves and narrow unlit tunnels. When you take this road as picturesque as it is narrow, with its many surprising meanders, drive carefully, and above all don't miss the parking spaces that have been provided.