Clue de la Maglia is a balcony road in France

Clue de la Maglia is a balcony road in France

France, europe

Length

30 km

Elevation

N/A

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

Clue de la Maglia is an absolutely stunning canyon nestled in the Alpes-Maritimes department of southeastern France, and it's earned its reputation as one of the country's most spectacular balcony roads. Carving through towering limestone cliffs carved by the Vallon de la Maglia river, this drive is pure magic from start to finish.

You'll find it near the charming village of Breil-sur-Roya in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, where white limestone walls create an otherworldly backdrop. The route (called Route Maglia) winds 5.1 km through the gorge as the sparkling Maglia river rushes below, stretching east-west from D2204 Road to La Maglia. Most of the surface is nicely paved with a few gravel sections toward the end, and you'll want to keep it slow—the 30 km/h speed limit exists for good reason.

Here's where it gets interesting: around the 2.8 km mark, you'll encounter a challenging 35-meter unlit tunnel that demands serious respect. We're talking seriously narrow—two average cars literally cannot pass each other here. Only attempt this if you're comfortable reversing on a tight mountain road for several hundred meters. Rock slides are a genuine concern, so this isn't a route for the faint-hearted. But if you're an experienced driver who loves a real adventure, the rewards are absolutely worth it.

Where is it?

Clue de la Maglia is a balcony road in France is located in France (europe). Coordinates: 45.5453, 2.2315

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Road Details

Country
France
Continent
europe
Length
30 km
Difficulty
hard
Coordinates
45.5453, 2.2315

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