Balcony Roads Vercors France

Day 59/ France 44

Travelled: 176km along the Combe Laval and Bourne balcony drives, stopping at Pont en Royan then driving through Furons Gorges down into the valley near Grenoble, through lovely countryside to the shores of the Rhône River at Port Goslee staying at a free parking area (45.7115,5.5526)

Just can’t help but say that it’s been a GORGEous day… pardon the pun. 

We had a quick coffee and we’re on the road just after 7am. We put Bluey an the weigh bridge - 3500kg exactly! Although when I got out to take a photo it went down to 3400kg! So not to sure how accurate it is…

We took a quick photo of Vassieux and the valley before driving over the col and down to the Combe Laval balcony road D76. The only restrictions were 3.5ton and 3.5m height. Bluey ticket both of those so off we went…. The road was originally built in 1898 to transport timber down to valley. The cirque of Royan provided panoramic scenery along the way. From Col de la Machine is where it got really interesting as the road was either carved into the cliff or through it (tunnels). Other sections had to be extended out over protruding spurs… here are the photos (videos to come) that will speak for themselves. Needless to say it was a thrilling drive which we did 3 times haha.

The views down the valley to St Jean en Royan were beautiful. 

We stopped there to buy breakfast and a baguette and then continued on to Pont en Royan. This charming village offered a photogenic sight of its overhanging coloured buildings perched on the bedrock above the Bourne River. 

Further along the road D531 we followed the Bourne River through a very scenic canyon. It took a painstaking 11 years to build the road in 1872. During the 22km we admired the beautiful scenery and experienced more narrow roads, sheer cliffs, balconies and tunnels. 

We stopped at a lookout and appreciated the new tunnel rather than the old road. 

 We thought we were done but then after Lans en Vercors we saw the sign Gorges of Furons but luckily it was a wider road with not too many challenges. 

As we have visited the area before and we need to make tracks to get to my cousins for tomorrow, we continued down into the Grenoble valley. 

Had a pit stop for Bluey in Voreppe, went over the Col de La Placette and through some beautiful fertile countryside to Port Groslee and parked on the banks of the Rhone. After a cooked lunch, Mark checked the front brakes as they are making noises every now and again (They seem to have a bit more on them) and did some general housekeeping..