I Love Walking In France

Inspiration, practical tips and guidebooks for long-distance walks in France

  • Home
  • About
  • Long-distance walking in France
  • Choose a walk
  • Inspiration
  • Practical tips
  • Guidebooks

Walking from Martel to Rocamadour

By Melinda Lusmore

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.

Long-distance walking from Martel to Rocamadour

It’s a walk best taken slowly; an experience to be savoured and enjoyed.

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…

(Published May 2014, updated April 2020)

Château de Castelnau-Bretenoux, Bretenoux, France

View from the watch tower of Château de Castelnau-Bretenoux

Where is it in France?

Martel to Rocamadour - where is it in France

Map of the path from Martel to Rocamadour

Map of the path from Martel to Rocamadour, France

Highlights of the walk from Martel to Rocamadour

Wild red poppies in a field with a forested ridge in the background

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

View from Tour César, Turenne

Turenne—a charming maze of narrow lanes, all leading uphill to the ruins of a tenth-century château

Collonges-la-Rouge, France

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 😊)

Curemonte, GR480, France

Side street in Curemonte

Curemonte—home to three medieval châteaux and a source of inspiration for the French novelist Collette

Autoire, GR 652, France

Pigeon house in Autoire

Autoire—a relatively modern village, rebuilt in the sixteenth century following the devastation of the Hundred Years War

Loubressac, GR652, France

Porte Est, Loubressac

Loubressac—perched high on a hill and offering magnificent views over the surrounding countryside

Carennac, GR652, France

Medieval houses in Carennac

Carennac—founded in the eleventh century by Cluny monks who built the magnificent church and adjoining cloister.

Martel, France

Cafés surround the covered halle where fresh food markets are held each Wednesday and Saturday morning in Martel

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

Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne, France

Boats reflecting on the river in Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne

Château de Montal, France

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.

Château de Castelnau-Bretenoux, Bretenoux, France

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, France

Gouffre de Padirac

Go 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.

Rocamadour, GR46 - GR652, France

The view of Rocamadour from l’Hôpital

Finish your walk in Rocamadour

Seven days of easy 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

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

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.

Château de Castelnau-Bretenoux, Bretenoux, France

Suggested itinerary for walking from Martel to Rocamadour

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.

Each day brings new delights—your biggest challenge will be deciding whether to linger where you are or move on to discover the next village.

Day 1 Martel to Turenne (16.7 km/10.4 mi).

Day 2 Turenne to Collonges-la-Rouge (6 km/3.8 mi).

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).

Day 5 Bretenoux to Loubressac (15.9 km/9.9 mi).

Day 6 Loubressac to Carennac (16 km/10 mi).

Day 7 Carennac to Rocamadour (26.6 km/16.6 mi).

Day 8 Rocamadour. Take a well-earned rest and explore Rocamadour.

Auberge de la Fontaine, Autoire, GR652, France

Accommodation from Martel to Rocamadour

Villages along the long-distance walking path from Martel to Rocamadour offer accommodation at intervals to suit most walkers.

The longest 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.

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 this walk visits.

Accommodation is available in the following villages (click on the link for a comprehensive list of accommodation).

Distances are given from the starting point of Martel.

0.0 km                   (0.0 mi)              Martel (H,T)

16.7 km                 (10.4 mi)            Turenne (H,C)

22.7 km                 (14.2 mi)            Collonges-la-Rouge (H,C,G,T)

37.7 km                 (23.6 mi)            Curemonte (C) 

49.7 km                 (31.1 mi)            Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne (H,C,T)

71.7 km                 (44.8 mi)            Bretenoux ((H,C,T)

82.2 km                (51.4 mi)             Autoire (H)

87.6 km                 (54.8 mi)            Loubressac (H,C,T)

103.6 km             (64.8 mi)              Carennac (H,C,T)

129.2 km             (80.8 mi)              l’Hôpital (H)

130.2 km             (81.4 mi)              Rocamadour (H,T)

How to book accommodation in French

If you prefer to set your own agenda, I share the steps I take to calculate distances on any long-distance walk (using the Chemin de Stevenson as a case study)

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 2020 (PDF) edition of the I Love Walking in France guidebook—Martel to Rocamadour

$12.99 – Add to cart Checkout Added to cart

77 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!

Look inside the guidebook

About The Author – Melinda Lusmore

Hi! I’m Melinda, the walker behind I Love Walking in France. Nothing makes me happier than wandering through the picturesque villages and glorious countryside in rural France, and helping others to do the same. Whether you’re looking for practical tips or a little inspiration for your own long-distance walk, you’ll find everything you need right here. This website contains no sponsored posts or affiliate links. If I recommend a product, service or somewhere to stay, it’s because I’ve used it, loved it—and I think you will too!

Comments

  1. David Carey says

    September 16, 2019 at 9:19 am

    Hi Melinda,

    If we cannot walk more than 18km per day is it still possible to find accommodation?
    Thanks,
    David

    Reply
    • Melinda Lusmore says

      September 16, 2019 at 7:21 pm

      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

      Reply
  2. Terra Liddil says

    August 29, 2019 at 1:43 pm

    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

    Reply
    • Melinda Lusmore says

      August 29, 2019 at 10:03 pm

      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

      Reply
  3. Terra Liddil says

    August 27, 2019 at 9:48 am

    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

    Reply
    • Melinda Lusmore says

      August 29, 2019 at 10:12 pm

      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

      Reply
  4. Terra says

    July 28, 2019 at 9:09 am

    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

    Reply
    • Melinda Lusmore says

      July 28, 2019 at 9:12 pm

      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

      Reply
      • Terra says

        July 30, 2019 at 6:50 am

        Another question:
        What is the best way to get from Paris to Martel?

        Terra

        Reply
        • Melinda Lusmore says

          July 30, 2019 at 9:32 pm

          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

          Reply
  5. Robyn says

    March 24, 2018 at 9:16 pm

    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

    Reply
    • Melinda Lusmore says

      March 24, 2018 at 9:45 pm

      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

      Reply
      • Robyn says

        April 4, 2018 at 9:17 am

        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

        Reply
        • Melinda Lusmore says

          April 4, 2018 at 9:00 pm

          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

          Reply
  6. trish says

    March 21, 2018 at 1:00 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Melinda Lusmore says

      March 21, 2018 at 5:38 pm

      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

      Reply
  7. Barbara Wake says

    August 15, 2016 at 9:15 pm

    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

    Reply
    • Melinda Lusmore says

      August 16, 2016 at 3:38 pm

      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

      Reply
      • Barbara Wake says

        August 17, 2016 at 8:36 pm

        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

        Reply
        • Melinda Lusmore says

          August 17, 2016 at 9:58 pm

          You’re most welcome Barbara 🙂 Enjoy!

          Reply
  8. Tricia A. Mitchell says

    August 29, 2015 at 4:49 pm

    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?

    Reply
    • Melinda Lusmore says

      August 30, 2015 at 10:53 am

      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!

      Reply
  9. 365thingsiloveaboutfrance.com says

    May 5, 2014 at 3:20 am

    I’d love to do this walk! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Melinda Lusmore says

      May 5, 2014 at 9:05 am

      Thanks Nancy. This one passes through some stunning countryside and beautiful villages.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Are you dreaming of a walk through the picturesque villages and glorious countryside of rural France and don’t know where to start?

Download your FREE guide now!

3 Steps to the Perfect Long-distance Walk

Your details stay here – no walking ever!
It’s a promise!

SEARCH

Come say hello at

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest

Are you dreaming of a walk through the picturesque villages and glorious countryside of rural France and don’t know where to start?

Download your FREE guide now!

3 Steps to the Perfect Long-distance Walk

Your details stay here - no walking EVER! It's a promise!

Copyright © 2021