Gorges du Nan is a defiant balcony road in France
France, europe
9.1 km
N/A
extreme
Year-round
# Gorges du Nan
Get ready for one of France's most thrilling cliff-hugging drives! The Gorges du Nan is a spectacular canyon carved by Le Nant River, and the legendary D22 road that winds through it is basically the definition of a white-knuckle adventure.
You'll find this beauty in the Isère department, nestled in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region south of Grenoble in southeastern France. The road itself is fully paved, but don't let that fool you—this isn't your typical highway.
The real challenge comes along the 9.1 km (5.65 miles) stretch between Malleval-en-Vercors and Cognin-les-Gorges, which runs north-south through the heart of the action. This section is absurdly narrow—we're talking impossibly tight for two cars to pass. Once you hit the first tunnel after Cognin-les-Gorges, things get genuinely exceptional. There are zero pull-offs along the way, so you'll want to power through to Malleval-en-Vercors where you can finally catch your breath. Fair warning: glancing over the railing will make your stomach drop—that's a long way down with just a thin stone barrier between you and the abyss.
Expect about 25 minutes of pure concentration to complete the drive. You're navigating through multiple gorges with a steep 3-mile descent, squeezing through a 2.2-meter-wide section, navigating hairpin turns, sharp bends, and blind curves—all while the road is literally cut into the rock face with tunnels carved directly out of the stone.
Built back in 1880 when two local villages teamed up to create access to their towns, this secondary road has become legendary. The Vercors region, located within Vercors National Park, was a key Resistance stronghold during WW2, and you'll spot memorials honoring that history as you drive.
Where is it?
Gorges du Nan is a defiant balcony road in France is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 46.8843, 3.5691
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 9.1 km
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- 46.8843, 3.5691
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