D219 is a scenic balcony road in France
4 unlit tunnels, 10 hairpin turns, severe drop-offs, and narrow (very narrow) sections make Road D219 one of the scariest drives in Europe. It’s one of the French balcony roads.
Where is the D219 road?
The road is located to the east of Grenoble, in the Isère department, in the region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, in the southeastern part of the country. It is surrounded by several well-known mountain resorts, including Alpe d'Huez and Les Deux Alpes. The Écrins National Park lies to the southeast of Le Bourg-d'Oisans.
Is the D219 road paved?
The challenging D219 road, carved into the sheer rock face, follows the Romanche River on its western side. It’s totally paved.
How long is the D219 road?
It’s 9km (5.59 miles) long, running north-south from Le Bourg-d'Oisans to Villard-Notre-Dame. The approximate driving time is 13 minutes.
Is the D219 road open?
Set high in the French Alps, the road is open year-round, but it can be closed often due to snow in winters. The road is closed to vehicles exceeding a maximum weight of 15 tons, a maximum length of 7 meters, and a maximum width of 3 meters.
Is the D219 road difficult?
The road is extremely challenging. If you’re scared of narrow mountain roads, avoid it at all costs. This narrow and steep road features 9 hairpin turns and 4 unlit and narrow tunnels:
- Tunnel du Pontet (23m)
- Tunnel de Villard notre Dame (365 m)
- Tunnel de la Gardette (132m)
- Tunnel de Forissier (119m)
It’s a shelf road with steep drop offs and several dark tunnels. After the tunnels, the route is just as good. It winds up and up, in a fabulous environment, getting ever closer to big mountains. It has several nice tunnels and the road is cut into the mountainside for long stretches (just like many other roads in the area). One tunnel is long enough (and bent) so you will not see anything at one point as the tunnels are unlit, so it might be wise walking a few metres in this tunnel. The road connecting these tunnels is just as hair raising up close, as you would expect from seeing it at a distance. This is as close to real exposure on a bike as you can come. Only a low stone embankment separates the road from the drop off. It makes a great foreground in photos that celebrate the grandeur of nature.