
D428 is a balcony road through Vallon de Pierlas
France, europe
7.3 km
N/A
hard
Year-round
Okay, buckle up, adventure lovers! Let's talk about the Vallon de Pierlas in the Alpes-Maritimes, France – picture-perfect Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. This isn't just any road; it's one of those legendary French balcony roads that will leave you breathless (literally and figuratively).
The D428, a paved gem stretching about 7.3km from Pierlas to the D28, is carved right into the rock face. Think hairpin turns galore! But here's the kicker: some sections are seriously narrow. Hope you're good at reversing, because meeting another car could be…interesting.
And hold on tight because this road gets *steep*. We're talking gradients up to a whopping 26% in places! You'll climb 542 meters in elevation, averaging a 7.42% gradient. This one's not for newbie drivers. This balcony road isn't joking around – sheer drops, minimal room for error, and views that'll make your jaw drop. Seriously, even looking at pictures might make your palms sweat! Just imagine conquering it in person!
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 7.3 km
- Difficulty
- hard
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