The seven-day walk from Martel to Rocamadour weaves through 130 kilometres (81 miles) of glorious French countryside, visiting fairy-tale castles, underground caves and passing through six of France’s most beautiful villages.
It’s a walk best taken slowly; an experience to be savoured and enjoyed. Each day will bring new delights, and your biggest challenge will be deciding whether to linger where you are or move on to discover the next village.
(Published May 2014, updated July 2021)
My suggested itinerary leaves plenty of time to lean against the stone walls of an ancient chapel and ponder the hands that built them a thousand years earlier; to look out through the observation slits in a medieval tower and imagine invading armies charging up the hill…
View from the watch tower of Château de Castelnau-Bretenoux
Where is it in France?
Map of the path from Martel to Rocamadour
There are couple of ways to approach this walk, with train access close to Martel and Rocamadour and also at Biars-sur-Cère between Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne and Bretenoux. Your options are:
Martel to Rocamadour
Trains on both the Brive-la-Gaillarde to Figeac and Brive-la-Gaillarde to Aurillac lines stop at Saint-Denis-près-Maret, seven kilometres (five miles) from Martel. Bus connections to Martel are availale from here.
Follow the walking loop clockwise as listed, from Martel to Rocamadour. The Rocamadour-Padirac train station is three kilometres (two miles) away and from here you can take a train on to Figeac and then to anywhere in France.
If you need to return to Martel, the same train will return you to Saint-Denis-près-Martel. Alternatively, Martel is a twenty-kilometre (twelve-mile) walk from Rocamadour, reached by backtracking to Montvalent and continuing along the GR 46 to Martel.
Bretenoux to Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne
Trains on the Brive-la-Gaillarde to Aurillac line stop at Biars-sur-Cère, which is two kilometres (one mile) from Bretenoux. Bus and taxi connections to Bretenoux are available from here.
Follow the walking loop clockwise as listed, from Bretenoux to Tocamadour, then backtrack to Montvalent and follow the GR 46 to Martel. From Martel, continue clockwise around to Biars-sur-Cère to catch the train back out.
Accommodation from Martel to Rocamadour
Villages along the long-distance walking path from Martel to Rocamadour offer accommodation at intervals to suit most walkers.
0.0 km (0.0 mi) Martel
16.7 km (10.4 mi) Turenne
22.7 km (14.2 mi) Collonges-la-Rouge
37.7 km (23.6 mi) Curemonte
49.7 km (31.1 mi) Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne
71.7 km (44.8 mi) Bretenoux
82.2 km (51.4 mi) Autoire
87.6 km (54.8 mi) Loubressac
103.6 km (64.8 mi) Carennac
129.2 km (80.8 mi) l’Hôpital
130.2 km (81.4 mi) Rocamadour
How to book accommodation in French
Suggested itinerary for walking from Martel to Rocamadour
My suggested itinerary recommends a mix of long and short days to allow plenty of time for exploring Château de Castelnau-Bretenoux and for lingering in the six ‘most beautiful villages’ that this walk visits.
There are two sections longer than 25 kilometres (15.6 miles) which, I confess, is as far as I like to walk in one day. Both can be easily reduced to lighten the daily load.
The longest section, from Collonges-la-Rouge to Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne requires a walk of 27 kilometres (16.9 miles). If you are able to extend your schedule by one day, this section can be broken with an overnight stay in Curemonte. If your time is limited, I suggest taking a taxi from Collonges-la-Rouge to the ancient chapel at Saint-Hilaire de la Combe (located a short distance before Curemonte) and beginning the day’s walk there.
The last section, from Carennac, requires a walk of 25.6 kilometres (16 miles) to l’Hôpital or 26.6 kilometres (16.6 miles) if you continue on to Rocamadour. If this is further than you wish to walk in a day, I recommend taking a taxi from Carennac to Montvalent and continuing your walk from there.
It is certainly possible to complete the walk in fewer than the recommended eight days, but this schedule is based around my ‘enjoy breakfast, walk ten kilometres, have a nice lunch, walk another ten kilometres and linger over dinner’ philosophy.
Day 1 Martel to Turenne (16.7 km/10.4 mi). Explore Turenne and the château in the afternoon.
Day 2 Turenne to Collonges-la-Rouge (6 km/3.8 mi). Arrive in time for lunch and spend the afternoon relaxing and exploring the village.
Day 3 Collonges-la-Rouge to Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne (27 km/16.9 mi).
Day 4 Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne to Bretenoux (18 km/11.3 mi). (See NOTE below).
Day 5 Bretenoux to Loubressac (15.9 km/9.9 mi). Visit Bretenoux markets (Tuesday or Saturday mornings only) and stop at Château de Castelnau-Bretenoux on the way to Loubressac.
Day 6 Loubressac to Carennac (16 km/10 mi). Take time for a tour of the Gouffre de Padirac and arrive in Carennac in the afternoon, in time to visit the church and cloister.
Day 7 Carennac to Rocamadour (26.6 km/16.6 mi).
Day 8 Rocamadour. Take a well-earned rest and explore Rocamadour.
NOTE: Day 4 – The path between Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne and Bretenoux has been rerouted and is no longer feasible to walk in one day. Overnight accommodation on the route is limited, so breaking this into two days is not possible either.
The D940 which links Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne and Bretenoux carries a lot of fast-moving traffic and is much too busy to walk alongside. My suggested solution for this section is to either –
- Spend more time exploring Beaulieu-sur -Dordogne in the morning and stay for lunch; take a taxi to Château de Montal early in the afternoon and a taxi from the château to Bretenoux, or
- Walk alongside the D41 from Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne to Bretenoux. This road follows the other side of the river but will be fairly quiet, at least until it doubles back to cross the river past Lioudres, and I imagine will only see a small amount of local traffic. This way is 13 kilometres (8 miles) and will still leave time for exploring Beaulieu or the château.
If you prefer to set your own agenda, I share the steps I take to plan my itinerary on any long-distance walk (using the Chemin de Stevenson as a case study)
Highlights of the walk from Martel to Rocamadour
Boats reflecting on the river in Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne
Visit six of the most beautiful villages in France
There are more than 30,000 small villages in France but only 159 of them can claim to be among the ‘most beautiful’. (To qualify, a village must enjoy a rural setting, at least two historical monuments which it commits to protecting and preserving and have a population of less than 2,000.)
This corner of France has more than its fair share of most beautiful villages and on the walk from Martel to Rocamadour, you’ll visit—
View from Tour César, Turenne
Turenne—a charming maze of narrow lanes, all leading uphill to the ruins of a tenth-century château
Pretty-as-a-picture – Tourist Office in Collonges-la-Rouge
Collonges-la-Rouge—with its distinctive red-brick cottages and fairy-tale turrets, this picturesque village is the highlight of the walk (I think 😊)
Side street in Curemonte
Curemonte—home to three medieval châteaux and a source of inspiration for the French novelist Collette
Pigeon house in Autoire
Autoire—a relatively modern village, rebuilt in the sixteenth century following the devastation of the Hundred Years War
Porte Est, Loubressac
Loubressac—perched high on a hill and offering magnificent views over the surrounding countryside
Medieval houses in Carennac
Carennac—founded in the eleventh century by Cluny monks who built the magnificent church and adjoining cloister.
Customers inspect trays of fresh fruit at the Saturday morning market in Bretenoux
Stock up on trail mix at the local markets
In addition to the visual feast that awaits you in these lovely places, you’ll discover fresh food markets at several villages where you can find regional delicacies to bolster your picnic lunches. Time your walk to visit at least one!
Martel—Wednesday and Saturday morning
Curemonte—Wednesday evening from mid-June until mid-September
Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne—Wednesday and Saturday morning, except for Saturday following the local fair which is held on the first and third Friday of each month. In July and August, a local produce market starts at 5 pm on Monday evening.
Bretenoux—Tuesday and Saturday morning
Carennac—Tuesday evening in summer
Cafés surround the covered halle where fresh food markets are held each Wednesday and Saturday morning in Martel
Château de Montal
Explore Château de Montal and Château de Castelnau-Bretenoux
From Biars-sur-Cère or Bretenoux a short taxi ride will take you to Château de Montal. Built in the first part of the sixteenth century, the château has been faithfully restored and refurnished, providing a fascinating insight into the daily life of the nobility.
A brochure (available in many languages) will guide you through the beautifully decorated rooms.
Approaching Château de Castelnau-Bretenoux
As you leave Bretenoux and continue on your walk, you’ll reach Château de Castelnau-Bretenoux, a thirteenth-century fortress where ruling barons kept an eye out for invading armies. A climb to the top of the artillery tower will reward you with stunning views over the surrounding countryside.
Guided tours are available and expositions are often held during the summer months.
Gouffre de Padirac
Journey deep underground at Gouffre de Padirac
From Loubressac, a variante of the GR 652 walking path offers a shortcut to the next village of Carennac. You could follow it and enjoy a restful day but I recommend taking the longer route which passes by Gouffre de Padirac—a series of underground lakes and caves 103 metres below the surface.
From Easter until October, a guided tour takes you by boat along an underground river before you disembark and continue on foot past majestic stalagmites and stalactites.
The view of Rocamadour from l’Hôpital
Finish your walk in Rocamadour
Seven days of walking from Martel brings you to Rocamadour—an ancient village clinging precariously to the side of cliff.
It is said that Zaccheus (also known as Armadour and a servant of Mary, mother of Jesus) came to live here in the caves as a hermit, bringing with him a black, wooden statue of the Madonna. The statue is displayed in the Chapelle de Notre-Dame and many famous figures—including King Henri II of England, accompanied by Sir Thomas Beckett—have come to pay their respects over the last nine hundred years.
A red and white blaze marks the GR 652 path near Autoire
GR paths and IGN maps
The walk from Martel to Rocamadour follows a number of connecting Grand Randonnée paths—the GR 46, GR 480 and GR 652. There is no TopoGuide unfortunately which summarises this walk into a single book but a few easy-to-follow IGN maps will keep you on the track. You’ll need—
Martel to Turenne—follow the GR 46, IGN map 2136 ET
Turenne to Collonges-la-Rouges—follow GR 46 and GR 480, IGN map 2135 O
Collonges-la-Rouge to Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne—follow GR 480, IGN map 2135 E
Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne to Bretenoux—follow GR 480, IGN map 2236 O
Bretenoux to Carennac—follow GR 652, IGN map 2236 O
Carennac to Rocamadour—follow GR 652, IGN maps 2236 O and 2136 ET
IGN maps provide a lot of detail, including topographical contours, villages, rivers and the GR path. They do not extend to street level but provide more than enough detail to guide you safely each day. Having one will allow you to assess possible shortcuts along a road and give you a feel for how far away the next village is. Personally, I like to carry a map (when no TopoGuide is available), and have used them in the past to find a detour around the occasional hill.
Maps are available online, at the Paris store (8 Avenue Pasteur, Saint-Mandé) and sometimes in the local tabac (store).
If you prefer online maps, you can use the GPS built into your phone to track your location on the IGN map using Géoportal which also shows GR paths clearly marked in purple.
Local bus services
Several local bus services provide connections to one or two other villages on this walk. You can check timetables here and here.
Many walkers arrive in Rocamadour having followed the Chemin de Saint-Jacques variante from Figeac. It is possible to return to the Chemin de Saint-Jacques at Figeac or Cahors using bus services from Biars-sur-Céré, Bretenoux or Rocamadour. Timetables are available here.
Practical tips for long-distance walking—preparation, packing and avoiding blisters
Ready to go?
Download the 2021 (PDF) edition of the I Love Walking in France guidebook—Martel to Rocamadour
80 pages packed with dozens of photos, taxi phone numbers, links to accommodation websites and train and bus schedules, Tourist Offices, market days, where to find a pharmacy or an ATM, useful French phrases—and many more practical tips!
Hi Melinda,
If we cannot walk more than 18km per day is it still possible to find accommodation?
Thanks,
David
Hi David,
It certainly is! My suggested itinerary has two days longer than 18 km but I suggest you do the following –
1) Collonges-la-Rouge to Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne can be broken with an overnight stop in Curemonte breaking it into two days of 15 km and 12 km (accommodation in Curemonte is limited so I recommend booking in advance). Alternatively, take a taxi from Collonges-la-Rouge to Curemonte and walk from there to Beaulieu.
2) There are no villages offering accommodation to break up the last day from Carennac to Rocamadour. I would take a taxi from Carennac to Montvalent and walk the ten kilomtetres to Rocamdour from there.
Melinda
Hi Melinda,
I’m having some difficulty following the GR routes on the topo maps.
Are the GR routes well-marked? Will the locals be able to help us out if we get lost? Are we likely to meet other randonneurs along the way?
Do the GR routes show up on GPS?
My husband and I arrive in Paris Sept 6, and will spend the 6th and 7th in Martel, then start our randonnee to Turenne the 7th. We are very excited! I’ll keep you posted…
Terra
Hi Terra,
The GR routes will show up on the IGN maps. You can download the mobile app and use the GPS in your phone to track your progress. https://www.geoportail.gouv.fr/ It is not as popular as the pilgrims trails and it is quite possible that you won’t see any other walkers but I have always found the French to be very helpful if you need pointing in the right direction.
Melinda
Hi Melinda,
I’m getting down to planning the details for this walk with my husband. I have more questions…
1.I’ve been studying the GR maps, and having a hard time finding the GR routes. Then, when I do
locate them, they seem to stop abruptly and resume somewhere else. So, I’m wondering how well marked they are. Will we be able to pick them up if we stray? And do you think there will be many other travelers walking the trails? Or other people to ask directions? Will the locals be familiar with the GR routes? Will they appear on a GPS map?
2. Are the trails maintained? Are they in good condition?
3. Do you think we will be able to find someone to transport out small suitcases? We’ll be carrying daypacks only. (I speak French)
4. Do restaurants and lodging generally have internet on this route?
5. Will we be able to take a boat on the river from any of the towns to the next?
Thanks for your help!
Terra
Hi Terra,
The GR paths are maintained by an army of volunteers. They are generally well maintained and I usually find that if I’ve wandered onto a path that is not well maintained, it’s a sign that I’ve left the GR path. They can be muddy and slippery after rain.
You will probably need to have your bags transported by taxi but your host will be able to do this for you each morning.
Internet can be patchy – even hotels that advertise wifi and provide a password, may need you to sit near the lobby to be in wifi range or may only have capacity for one logged in device per room. Others can have great internet. Sometimes it will be secured and sometimes it won’t. I don’t rely on it to do internet banking. My advice would be to message home/friends when you have it as it may not be available everywhere.
Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne and Bretenoux section is your best bet for canoeing or kayaking and the Tourist Offices there will be able to help.
Have fun!
Melinda
Melinda,
Thank you for the excellent guide, and for your helpful suggestions.
My husband and I are planning to do this walk this coming September. We aren’t
Sure how far we want to walk each day, so prefer to make reservations for accommodation as we go. Do you think we will have any problems finding good places to stay that way?
We won’t be in any hurry…
Also, we’ll have to arrange our luggage transfer day by day
Hi Terra,
The worst of the tourist season will have passed by September so I think you will be safe. The flexible you are in accommodation type (hotel, chambre d’hôte) you are, the more options you’ll have. Once you get a feel for how far you prefer to walk each day, choose a target for that day’s walk and ask your host to phone ahead and book you a room for that night. This way there will be no disappointments when you arrive in the village.
Good luck and thank you for those kind words 🙂
Bon chemin
Melinda
Another question:
What is the best way to get from Paris to Martel?
Terra
Hi Terra,
Check the Rome2Rio website for train schedules from Paris to Saint-Denis-près-Martel. From there, you can catch a bus or take a taxi to Martel.
Melinda
Hi Melinda,
I’m thinking of taking this walk with my daughter in May. Just a few questions:
To shorten the walk slightly I thought we’d walk Day and 2 on one day – is this doable?
We’ll be arriving and leaving by Flixbus from Brive La Gaillard. Is there a taxi that can take us to and from the start/ finish of the walk?
Thanks
Hi Robyn,
Day 1 and 2 combined is only 22.7 kilometres so absolutely doable in one day. My only suggestion would be don’t rush through Turenne and Collonges-la-Rouges, take some time to explore and enjoy the villages – they really are the highlights of the walk.
I’ll email you some screen shots showing where the walk starts in relation to the Tourist Office in Martel.
Enjoy the walk!
Melinda
Thanks Melinda,
I’ve booked accommodation and planned the route for my 21 year old daughter and I to walk Turenne to Rocamadour for the beginning of May. The weather looks OK – well no rain and a mild 20 degrees during the day.
I substituted the Beaulieu to Bretenaoux walk with a 2 hour kayak to give us more time at the Wed market at Beaulieu and to give our feet a rest (I couldn’t find accommodation between Collanges and Beaulieu so a 27 km hike the day before).
Will let you know how it all goes.
Thanks you for the inspiration.
Robyn
Hi Robyn,
I love the idea of kayaking from Beaulieu to Bretenoux and it will give your feet some recovery time after the long day into Beaulieu. Good thinking!
Melinda
Hi, I was wondering if this walk has become very popular? I want to go walking in France but i don’t want to be with 100’s of other people. I don’t mind a few of course but like the idea of it not being too busy.
Hi Trish, this walk is less busy than most, probably because it does not follow a dedicated GR path around the loop – it starts on the GR 46, switches to the GR 480, then the GR 652 and GR 46 again. During the summer months, you’ll find the villages quite crowded as this is one of the most beautiful and most popular parts of France! Enjoy! Melinda
Dear Melinda – thanks for your absorbing site. I’m planning to walk the Dordogne in late September 2016 with a couple of friends. We have everything organised except luggage transfer – we’re too old to carry fullpacks these days. Have you heard or know anyone in the Dordogne who has such a service?
Before that walk I’m planning to walk the GR34 in early September, doing day walks either out of Nante or St Malo. Have you any suggestions? If so I’d really appreciate them.
With thanks,
Barbara
Hi Barbara,
I’m with you – I prefer to have my luggage transferred. I’m not aware of anyone who does it in the Dordogne region but since there a a few of you to share the cost, I would call a taxi each morning and ask them to take your bags on to the next hotel. I have done this in Burgundy, the hotel made the call for us and the taxi gave us a quote, usually 40 – 45 euros. We then left the money and the bags at the hotel and started our day’s walk. Everything went smoothly. Shared among four of us, the cost was reasonable.
I haven’t done that part of the GR34 but I’d be tempted to look at the section between Saint-Malo and Mont-Saint-Michel. It would too far for a single day but you would probably get to the end of the peninsula and should have beautiful views across to Mont-Saint-Michel. Saint-Malo does look a beautiful town.
Have a wonderful time!
Melinda
Many thanks Melinda – I think your suggestion of taxis for luggage transfer will be the way to go. Yes, St Malo does look interesting doesn’t it.
Bon walking!
Barbara
You’re most welcome Barbara 🙂 Enjoy!
Melinda, I love your suggestion of picking up picnic fare at the village markets. In average, about how many kilometers do you walk each day?
Hi Tricia,
I normally walk between 20 – 25 kilometres each day with a few shorter days or even a rest day thrown in. Next week I will be walking along the GR65 Chemin de Saint-Jacques from Le-Puy-en-Velay to Aumont-Aubrac and from Aire-sur-l’Adour to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and my days are all between 14 and 23 kilometres.
Eiropean markets are such a good source of fresh breads, cheeses, figs and fresh fruits and often a bottle of wine – they make for a wonderful picnic!
I’d love to do this walk! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Nancy. This one passes through some stunning countryside and beautiful villages.