Photos of Combe Laval Balcony Road
About Combe Laval Balcony Road
Combe Laval Balcony Road (D76) is an amazing gem that features a steep, winding road perched on the edge of the mountains with stunning views. The road crosses the face of Combe Laval on a ledge cut directly into the cliff, with pale grey limestone rising overhead and a long drop to the trees below. There are eleven tunnels sitting along this stretch of road, with several of them short enough to show daylight at both ends, and between them the road comes out onto open balcony sections with low stone parapets at the edge. The route climbs from Saint-Jean-en-Royans up to Col de la Machine where there is parking and a viewpoint looking back along the line of the road. The road originally opened in 1898 to bring timber down from the Forêt de Lente, now it is a favourite spot for motorbikes and cyclists. There are so many opportunities to shoot road as the subject. You can shoot it from the outside of the bends where the ledge, a tunnel mouth, and the drop all sit in one frame. Or from the viewpoint at Col de la Machine. You can experiment with using a telephoto lens to pull the road out as a thin line against the cliff, or while a wide lens to bury it in the rock face completely. This roadway usually has steady traffic so make sure to only pull in at the marked viewpoints and be aware of other cars while you are shooting a tunnel. Camper vans, caravans, and wide vehicles are not allowed since the road gets quite narrow in places, especially inside the tunnels. If you want to have the best chance at fewer cars in your frames aim to go on a weekday. (Saint-Jean-en-Royans, Drôme, France)
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