
Where are the Gorges de Chouvigny?
France, europe
7.5 km
N/A
moderate
Year-round
Okay, picture this: you're cruising through central France in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. You stumble upon this incredible canyon called Gorges de Chouvigny, right on the border of the Allier and Puy-de-Dôme departments. The road through it, the D915, is only about 7.5 km (4.66 miles) long, stretching from Le Pont de Menat to Chouvigny.
The whole thing is carved out by the La Sioule river, and it's seriously scenic! Now, fair warning, the road is paved, but it gets pretty narrow and twisty in sections. Plus, there are some unlit tunnels to navigate, and for stretches, it's a single-track hugging the mountainside, so passing isn't an option. Basically, keep your eyes on the road and enjoy the stunning views.
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 7.5 km
- Difficulty
- moderate
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