Take the Scenic Route and Discover Gorges d'Aulan
Gorges d'Aulan is the name of a spectacular canyon carved into the limestone by the Toulourenc river in the Drôme department of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, in France. It’s one of the French balcony roads.
Nestled high in the Toulourenc valley at the foot of the Mont Ventoux, the gorges, also known as Gorges du Toulourenc, are traversed by the meandering D159 road. It’s totally paved and runs along a narrow canyon carved by the Toulourenc river. The road winds as a river, cutting snakes into the cliffs and runs as a single track road along the mountainside. High risk off rock slides.
Tucked away in the southeastern part of the country, the staggering road is 10.5 km (6.52 miles) long, running north-south from La Rochette-du-Buis to Montbrun-les-Bains. 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. In July and August the river is almost dry. But we warned: there’s a risk of sudden rise of water even in good weather.
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.