Gorges de la Nesque is a balcony road in France
Gorges de la Nesque is a spectacular canyon located in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France. It’s one of the French balcony roads.
Where are the Gorges de la Nesque?
The gorges are located in the southeastern part of the country, in the heart of Provence.
Can you drive through the Gorges de la Nesque?
The narrow road through the gorges was carved out of the cliff high above the Nesque river. It’s totally paved and called D942.
When was the road through Gorges de la Nesque built?
Constructed at the beginning of the 20th century and opened in 1920, the road is qualified as one of the most beautiful roads of Europe.
How long is the road through Gorges de la Nesque?
Located to the south of Mont Ventoux, the drive is 22.1 km (13.73 miles) long running from Villes-sur-Auzon to Monieux.
Is the road through Gorges de la Nesque difficult?
Tucked away in the Vaucluse Mountains, a mountain range of the French Prealps, the road is breathtaking. It’s a hair-raising drive in many places, too narrow for two-way traffic (there are many spots where the road is really only wide enough for one car) with craggy rock overhangs, blind curves and hairpin turns, and thrillingly, no guardrail. Be warned, though, because this drive is not for the weak-hearted. If you are afraid of heights, just make sure not to peek over the edge. The road features countless unlit tunnels. The surface is well maintained but some stretches are lined by a sheer drop to the bottom of the gorges, with low barriers - or sometimes none at all.
How long does it take to drive the Gorges de la Nesque?
Running in the heart of an exceptional landscape, to drive the road without stopping will take most people between 35 and 50 minutes. If you can, avoid the summer months of late June, July, and August. Generally speaking, it's recommended to set out very early in the morning in summer in order to avoid excessive heat and traffic. The road follows the sinuous mountain contours and offers magnificent views over the landscape. It’s very popular with cyclists and is fairly traffic-free thanks to the numerous low tunnels that you have to pass through. The road is marked out by tunnels and by belvederes – especially the one of Castelleras in front of majestic “Rocher de Cire”, the highest point of the gorge at 872 meters (2861 feet). The gorges reach a depth of more than 400 meters in some places. After Gorges du Verdon, Gorges de la Nesque are the next most spectacular in Provence, one of the most beautiful hydrogeological examples of the Midi.