Clue de Chasteuil, a balcony road in France

Clue de Chasteuil 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. Driving on this narrow road between walls of cliffs and gorges is a delight.

Clue de Chasteuil
Clue de Chasteuil

The road to the clue, a place where the river breaks through a band of limestone and is pushed into a short canyon, is called Route Departementale D952 and links the villages of Castellane and Palud-sur-Verdon. The surface of the road, with the Verdon river sparkling deep below in the canyon, 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.

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. 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.