Gorges de Chouvigny, a balcony road in France

Gorges de Chouvigny is an incredible canyon located in the Allier department in central France. The gorge is carved by the La Sioule river. It’s one of the famous French balcony roads.

Gorges de Chouvigny

This real gem of a discovery is traversed by the D915, a small asphalted narrow road. It’s 7.4 km long and links the towns of Le Pont de Menat and Chouvigny. This amazing road is carved into the mountainside. It’s a road to die for (or die on, if you're not careful!). It’s normal for your palms to sweat looking at those photos, imagine what it must have been like before the barriers. It runs as a single track road along the mountainside for some distance with nowhere to pass another vehicle. Here one says a prayer that nobody is coming towards you until the road widens some kilometres further.

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 suprising meanders, drive carefully, and above all don't miss the parking spaces that have been provided.