Driving the Challenging Route de Gros in Provence
Route de Gros is a challenging mountain road located in the Hautes-Alpes department of France. It’s one of the famous Balcony Roads in France.
Where is Route de Gros?
The road, officially known as D37L, is located north of the scenic Gorges du Guil, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, in the southeastern part of the country, within the Parc Naturel Régional du Queyras.
Is Route de Gros Paved?
Tucked away in the Guil Valley, the road is fully paved but includes sections in poor condition, with some loose gravel. It’s built along cliffs and carved into rock, with narrow sections. Fortunately, the road has almost no traffic.
How Long is Route de Gros?
The road to the town is 5.5 km (3.41 miles) long, starting from Eygliers. The drive includes steep sections and reaches a maximum elevation of 1,385m (4,543ft) above sea level.
Is Route de Gros Worth the Drive?
The road leads to Gros, a small hamlet with a tiny chapel and a hostel on the hilltop. Along the way, you can enjoy stunning views of the surrounding mountains, including the Écrins, as well as Guillestre, the fort of Mont-Dauphin (a fortress from the time of Louis XIV), and the Guil River, which forms the axis of Queyras.
Road suggested by: Jorge Manuel Gómez Sánchez
Pic&video: Dark Biker