Route Du Pas de la Confession, a balcony road in the French Alps
Located in the Isère department, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, in southeastern France, Route Du Pas de la Confession is a very challenging drive. The road is so defiant that travelers were encouraged to make confession before using it. It’s one of the French balcony roads.
Nestled in the French Alps, the road is called D211B. It’s totally paved but extremely narrow. The cliff road is 3.5 km (2.17 miles) long, running east-northwest from Huez to Villard-Reculas. Until 1980 this only road served Villard Reculas. Then the town was opened up with the road that links Allemont. The road climbs up to Pas de la Confession - the 'Confession Pass'- and tops out at 1.541m (5,055ft) above the sea level. There are a few viewpoints along the route to observe the impressive environment. Perched high above Romanche valley, the views are mesmerising.
The road carved into the mountainside is also known as Routes du Vertige. It is closed to vehicles towing caravans and trucks and features a high risk of rock slides. With its terrible sheer crossings, the road was known to be so dangerous that it was strongly advised, when leaving Huez for Villard-Reculas, to go to confession beforehand. On the Huez side, an oratory made it possible to go to confession before entering it.
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. It makes you realize how lethal one small riding mistake can be, as this little road soars high above the valley in the cliff wall.
Road suggested by: jorge manuel gómez sánchez