Clue de la Roche Percée, a balcony road in France
Clue de la Roche Percée is a very scenic drive located in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France. It’s one of the famous French balcony roads. There is little room for error on this road. It's normal for your palms to sweat looking at those photos, imagine what it must have been like before the barriers. Driving on this narrow road between walls of cliffs and gorges is a delight.
The road is called RD4085 (formerly known as RN 85). This road has humbled many egos. It’s not for the sissies and shouldn’t be attempted by novice drivers. It’s one of the most spectacular parts of the Route Napoléon, between Castellane and Barrème near Senez. The road tops out at 1.071m (3,513ft) above the sea level. The surface of the road is asphalted.There are not many roads like this in Europe, if you can handle the height and the prospect of a very long freefall this road absolutely has to be on the list of any road connoisseur. The journey offers superb views. It’s definitely worth it. A drive not to be missed! Don't forget your camera with lots of film/memory, fully charged batteries and an empty memory card! But to make photostops is almost impossible here.
It is one of the most famous balcony roads of 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 suprising meanders, drive carefully, and above all don't miss the parking spaces that have been provided.