Driving the D22, a balcony road in France
Perched high above the coastline of the Côte d'Azur in France, the D22 road is the name of a sharply winding and precipitous ascent in a steep and narrow zig-zag road, on the French Riviera. It is one of the most famous balcony roads in the country.
Where is the D22 Road?
The road is located in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, in the southeastern part of the country. It’s an international icon made famous by the many pros that would regularly frequent its slopes to test their form against the clock, but it’s never been part of the Tour of France, probably because the road is too narrow. It was used by Lance Armstrong, Tony Rominger, Chris Froome and Richie Porte to test their fitness in the run up to the Tour de France.
How challenging is the D22 Road?
The road is fully paved with some steep parts (a maximum gradient of 12.0%), without market central lines, is very narrow, scarcely wide enough for two cars to pass at the same time and there are no protections or guard rails along some parts of the route. Many of the corners are sharp and blind. If you're afraid of heights, it's probably best to keep your eyes forward. The whole road is very steady and basically there is no place to get any rest. It is also worth mentioning that the road is in the sun all the way up and in the summer months it can get very warm.
How long is the D22 Road?
The road climbs straight up from the seafront in Menton, on the Italian border, for 18.5 km (11.49 miles). This narrow winding road climbs up to Col de Bausson (732m), Col de la Madone de Gorbio (927m) and Col de Saint-Pancrace (673m). The higher you get the narrower the road gets. There are also 5 unlit one-lane tunnels cut into the rock.
When is the best time to drive the D22 Road?
The road usually remains open all year round. July and August are busy months in Menton. The journey offers an exhilarating driving experience, with superb views. As the road winds round the mountains you get alternating views of the sea dropping away beneath you. This is definitely one road trip that you want to record with lots of photographs. The road is quiet and has spectacular views right down to the coast. The views to Monaco and beyond to the Mediterranean are truly breathtaking.