D13 is a challenging balcony road in France
D13 is a very challenging road located in the Pyrénées-Orientales department of France. It’s one of the French balcony roads.
Where is the D13 road?
The road is located in the Occitanie Region, in the southern part of the country, near the French-Spanish border.
How long is the D13 road in France?
The curvy mountainous road is totally paved but narrow and steep, with drop-offs. The road is a bit rough and bumpy. It’s 22.6km (14.04 miles) long, running south-north from Las Illas (les Illes), near the Spanish border to Llauro.
Is the D13 a balcony road?
The D13, nicknamed as Route de Las Illas, is a beautiful roundtrip through a valley. The road deserves the name “balcony road,” especially at the beginning and at the end. Be careful when driving it because there are a lot of chalets (houses just used on weekends by French owners), and this road is the only way to reach them. Traffic is rare, but you have to drive slowly because the road is extremely winding, and the next car coming from the opposite direction can be surprising after the next bend.
How challenging is the D13 road?
Generally, there is nowhere on this road a distance of more than 200m without a bend. You will be driving through a cork oak forest, which is obviously used and partly harvested. During the typical “balcony road” sections, there is mostly a (also typical) stone wall to protect you from falling down. But be careful: When driving with a car, an accident will, of course, damage your car. When driving with a motorbike, there is a relevant chance that your bike stays on the road, and you go on riding alone – for some seconds because the stone wall is rather low. Motorbikes can easily pass by cars on nearly every place on this road. If two cars meet, especially on the “balcony road” section, one of them has to go into reverse until they can pass by. Don’t forget your camera – on a sunny day, you will find a lot of postcard motives.
Is the D13 road worth it?
Because of the dense wood, you are not always able to have a look at the small river at the bottom of the gorges. Take some food with you, park your vehicle in a secure place, and have a picnic you will never forget. The road is bumpy with some potholes but always paved. The D13 is the start of some dead-end roads, which also have the number D13 – together with a letter e.g., D13C. Like everywhere in the French mountains, make sure that you have enough fuel with you. Sometimes fuel stations are hard to find, and on the D13, there is none.
Road suggested by: Michael Spannlang
Pic: Toni Hernandez