Long traverse Normandy · Centre and Loire Valley · South-West · Pyrenees
GR36GR36 From the Channel to the Pyrenees
A great diagonal across France, from the D-Day landing beaches to the mountains of the Cerdagne, through the countryside of the west, the Périgord and the Quercy.
1,928 km90 stages33,250 m ascentHigh point 2,375 mOuistreham → Bourg-Madame
0 m500 m1,000 m1,500 m2,000 m2,500 m0 km250 km500 km750 km1,000 km1,250 km1,500 km1,750 km1102030405060708090High point 2,375 m
Elevation profile: from 4 m to 2,297 m over 1,927.8 km.
The GR36 at a glance
The GR36, named the “long-distance trail from the Channel to the Catalan Pyrenees”, links Ouistreham, on the Calvados coast, to Bourg-Madame, on the Spanish border in the Pyrénées-Orientales. It is one of the longest GRs in France: it crosses the country diagonally, from the north-west to the south, and lends itself to being walked in sections, over several trips.
It leaves Sword Beach along the Caen Canal, then follows the Orne and its meanders as far as the Suisse Normande. In the Sarthe, it passes through the Alpes Mancelles, the Sillé forest, the Le Mans conurbation and the Loir valley. It then reaches Poitou (Thouars, Parthenay, Niort), the Charente and Angoulême, then the Périgord, with Périgueux and the Vézère valley, before the Quercy and Cahors, then the Albigeois.
The final part is a change of scene. In the Pyrénées-Orientales, the trail crosses the Fenouillèdes, climbs towards Mantet and goes over the Col del Pal, at 2,294 m according to MonGR, before descending to the Cerdagne, its Romanesque villages and its hot springs, as far as Bourg-Madame.
This GR is for long-distance walkers who love rural France. The first sections are accessible to everyone; the last stages, in the mid-mountains, require a good level of fitness and suitable equipment.
Highlights
A start steeped in history on Sword Beach, beside the Caen Canal.
The gorges and viewpoints of the Suisse Normande along the Orne.
The Alpes Mancelles, the Sillé forest and the Loir valley, crossing the Sarthe.
The Périgord and the Vézère valley, a land of prehistoric sites.
The Quercy and Cahors, then the Albigeois and its Sainte-Cécile cathedral.
A mountain finish, via the Col del Pal and the villages of the Cerdagne.
Practical information
Start
Ouistreham
Ouistreham is linked to Caen SNCF station by Twisto network buses. The GR36 starts at the lock of the Caen Canal, on the left bank; the port also handles ferries to England.
Finish
Bourg-Madame
Bourg-Madame is a station on the Yellow Train (Cerdagne line), which links Villefranche-de-Conflent to Latour-de-Carol. From there you can reach Perpignan from Villefranche-de-Conflent, or Toulouse from Latour-de-Carol.
When to go
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The lowland sections can be walked from spring to autumn. The mountain finish, towards Mantet and the Col del Pal, means waiting for the snow to melt and is best done in summer or early autumn.
Difficulty
Challenging
Most of the route follows countryside and hills with no technical difficulty, but the length is exceptional and the final crossing of the Pyrénées-Orientales, above 2,000 m, is proper mountain walking.
Accommodation has to be arranged area by area: gîtes, B&Bs, campsites and hotels depending on the region. Tourist offices can provide addresses close to the trail, as the Sarthe hiking committee points out.
Rules to know
In the Pyrénées-Orientales, the GR36 passes close to nature reserves that have their own regulations (bivouacking, dogs, fires): check them before setting off.
Water and supplies
The route has been changed in places in recent years, especially in the Sarthe, where the topoguide was updated in 2024: use recent documentation or the FFRandonnée’s MaRando app. In the Pyrenean section, carry water and food for the mountain stages.
The GR36 on the map
The 90 stages
TrekGR stage plan: each stage ends where you can sleep. Actual walking time excluding breaks (DIN 33466 standard).
No current alerts for this GR (checked on 12 November 2026). All live updates →
Our advice
Follow the white-and-red waymarks all along the route and take the topoguide or an up-to-date GPS track.
Split the GR36 into sections of one or two weeks, choosing stage ends served by train or coach.
Keep the Pyrenean stages for summer and check the weather before climbing towards the Col del Pal.
Contact the tourist offices in each area to find accommodation before starting a section.
At the start, do not confuse the GR36 with the GR223: they share the same route as far as the Ranville bridge, then the GR223 heads off towards Honfleur.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the GR36 start in Ouistreham?
According to MonGR, the GR36 starts at the lock of the Caen Canal, on the left (west) bank, then follows the canal as far as the Bénouville lift bridge. It shares its route with the GR223 as far as the Ranville bridge.
Which regions does the GR36 cross?
Normandy (Calvados and Orne), the Sarthe, Poitou and the Charente, the Périgord, the Quercy, the Rouergue and the Albigeois, then the Aude and the Pyrénées-Orientales as far as the Cerdagne.
Can you walk the GR36 in sections?
Yes. MonGR suggests, for example, Ouistreham – Pont-d’Ouilly along the Orne, or Mantet – Bourg-Madame in three days, at the end of the route.
What is the hardest part of the GR36?
The crossing of the Pyrénées-Orientales. Between Mantet and Planès, the trail climbs to around 2,300 m and goes over the Col del Pal (2,294 m), according to MonGR. These stages require good fitness and favourable weather.
How do you get back from Bourg-Madame?
On the Yellow Train, which serves Bourg-Madame: towards Latour-de-Carol to connect to Toulouse, or towards Villefranche-de-Conflent for Perpignan.
Route: OpenStreetMap contributors. Elevation: IGN’s RGE ALTI®, one point every 50 m. Text checked on 10 November 2026.
Other GR trails: Normandy, Centre and Loire Valley
