Gorges de la Pierre-Lys is a balcony road in France

Gorges de la Pierre-Lys is a very scenic canyon located in the Aude department in the Occitanie region of France. It’s one of the French balcony roads.

How long is Gorges de la Pierre-Lys?

Tucked away in the southern part of the country, the road through the gorges is totally paved. It’s called D117. The road is 8.2 km (5.09 miles) long, running north-south from Quillan to Saint-Martin-Lys, through the deep gorge at Pierre-Lys, with cliffs either side of the road stretching to 700 metres in height.

Is Gorges de la Pierre-Lys worth it?

Beyond Axat the route passes through the equally dramatic Gorges de Saint-Georges and Gorges de l'Aude. All three offer a very good opportunity to enjoy the landscape, either from the comfort of your car - it is said to be one of the most stunning drives in France - or as a starting point for walking and cycling in the region. If you want to admire the scenery, don't drive: the road is much too dangerous to allow your eyes to wander. The gorge is accessed to the south of Quillan, a pleasant town, but with little in the way of great monuments. It is however well placed to explore both the Cathars castles to the east and the dramatic gorges to the south. The best time of day to drive is at sunset, when the rocks become an event deeper shade of red, casting sharp, jagged shadows over the landscape.