Long traverse Mediterranean and Provence · Massif Central · Atlantic coast
GR4GR4 From the Mediterranean to the Ocean
From Grasse, above the Côte d’Azur, to Royan, on the Atlantic coast, the GR4 crosses the south of France from east to west, from the Provençal canyons to the volcanoes of Auvergne.
1,526 km73 stages31,150 m ascentHigh point 1,881 mGrasse → Royan
0 m500 m1,000 m1,500 m2,000 m0 km200 km400 km600 km800 km1,000 km1,200 km1,400 km110203040506070High point 1,881 m
Elevation profile: from 2 m to 1,830 m over 1,525.8 km.
The GR4 at a glance
The GR4 links Grasse, the perfume capital in the Alpes-Maritimes, to Royan, on the Atlantic coast. According to MonGR, it is the third-longest GR in France: it crosses thirteen departments, from the Mediterranean to the Ocean, and changes character several times along the way.
On the Provence side, it leaves Grasse via the Caussols plateau, reaches Entrevaux then Castellane and plunges into the Grand Canyon du Verdon, part of which it follows on the Blanc-Martel trail before reaching Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. It then heads towards Manosque and Sault, crosses Mont Ventoux, the highest point of the whole route, then descends towards Mondragon and the Rhône valley.
At Pont-Saint-Esprit, the GR4 enters the Massif Central. It passes through the Ardèche gorges, skirts the Lac de Naussac in Lozère, then reaches Saint-Flour and the Monts du Cantal, from the Plomb du Cantal to the Puy Mary. Next come the summer pastures of the Cézallier, the edges of the Monts Dore and the Chaîne des Puys, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2018, with the climb up the Puy de Dôme.
The last part, gentler, crosses the Creuse via Crocq, Aubusson and Bourganeuf, then the Haute-Vienne via Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat and Limoges, capital of the arts of fire. After the Périgord Vert, the path reaches the vineyards of the Cognac area, Saintes, Brouage and Marennes, then finishes through the forest and along the rocky coast of Saint-Palais-sur-Mer to Royan. As it is very long, the GR4 is most often walked in sections of a few days.
Highlights
The Grand Canyon du Verdon, part of which you walk on the Blanc-Martel trail and through its tunnels.
Mont Ventoux, the highest point of the route, between the Sault area and the Rhône valley.
The Monts du Cantal, from the Plomb du Cantal to the Puy Mary, then the flower-filled summer pastures of the Cézallier.
The Chaîne des Puys, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the climb up the Puy de Dôme.
The Limousin of Crocq, Aubusson and Bourganeuf, then Limoges, capital of the arts of fire.
An arrival on the Atlantic via Brouage, Marennes and the coast of Saint-Palais-sur-Mer.
Practical information
Start
Grasse
Grasse station is served by TER trains from Cannes and Nice. It lies about 2 km from the centre: allow half an hour on foot, or take a Sillages town bus.
Finish
Royan
Royan has a TER station, the terminus of the line linking it to Saintes, from where trains run to Angoulême, Niort and Bordeaux; some TER trains also run directly from Royan to Bordeaux.
When to go
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Spring and autumn suit the Provençal section best, as summer there is hot and access to the forests is regulated. In the Cantal and the Puy-de-Dôme, the tourist offices put the season from May to October; the Limousin and the Charentes can be walked for a longer part of the year.
Difficulty
Challenging
No high mountains, but a very long crossing with several strenuous sections flagged by the FFRandonnée: the Grand Canyon du Verdon, the Ardèche gorges, the Puy Mary and the Puy de Dôme. The Limousin and the Charentes are much easier.
Gîtes, B&Bs, hotels and campsites line the route, unevenly from one region to another. In the Cantal, the tourist office advises booking directly with the accommodation at each stage and mentions luggage transfer services. Out of season, check which places are open before setting off.
Rules to know
From June to September, access to the forest areas of the Alpes-Maritimes, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Vaucluse and Gard may be restricted or forbidden by prefectoral order depending on the fire risk. In the Verdon, the tourist office states that bivouacking is forbidden in the Regional Nature Park, and the Blanc-Martel trail is closed to dogs and to children under 8. In the Cantal, bivouacking follows the rules of the Volcans d’Auvergne Park (from sunset to sunrise, with the landowner’s permission), ground fires are forbidden and animals are not allowed through the summer pastures.
Water and supplies
For the Blanc-Martel trail, the Verdon Park advises 3 litres of water per person and a torch, and points out that the river level can rise quickly when the dams release water; a seasonal shuttle links its two ends. Elsewhere, towns such as Castellane, Manosque, Saint-Flour, Aubusson, Limoges or Saintes let you stock up. In Lozère, the GR4 is diverted south of the Lac de Naussac, as far as Palhères, for an indefinite period.
The GR4 on the map
The 73 stages
TrekGR stage plan: each stage ends where you can sleep. Actual walking time excluding breaks (DIN 33466 standard).
Bring a head torch for the tunnels of the Blanc-Martel trail and check the days the Verdon Park shuttle runs.
Between June and September, check the forest access map the day before each Provençal stage.
Start early to cross the Ventoux, the Puy Mary or the Puy de Dôme, and turn back if a storm threatens.
With a dog, prepare an alternative route for the Blanc-Martel trail and the Cantal summer pastures.
Follow the waymarks on the ground rather than an old route: the GR4 has been changed near the Lac de Naussac and near Cognac.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the GR4 start and finish?
It starts in Grasse, in the Alpes-Maritimes, and ends in Royan, in the Charente-Maritime (MonGR). Some descriptions present it in the other direction, from Royan to Grasse.
Yes, it is the most common way to discover it. MonGR suggests several routes of a few days, for example from Castellane to Manosque via the Verdon, from Manosque to Sault, from Sault to Mondragon or from Saint-Flour to Égliseneuve-d’Entraigues.
Does the GR4 follow the Blanc-Martel trail?
Yes: between the Point Sublime and La Maline, it takes this trail and its tunnels at the bottom of the Verdon gorges (MonGR). The Verdon Park closes it to dogs and to children under 8 and advises people prone to vertigo against it.
Can you bivouac on the GR4?
Not everywhere. In the Verdon, the tourist office states that bivouacking is forbidden in the Regional Nature Park. In the Cantal, it is allowed from sunset to sunrise with the landowner’s permission, according to Hautes Terres Tourisme. Elsewhere, check with the municipalities and parks along the way.
Has the GR4 route been changed recently?
Yes, in two areas. In Lozère, it is diverted south of the Lac de Naussac to Palhères, as the old path has been closed by municipal order. In the Charente, a risk of rockfall in the Antenne valley led to the route being changed between Cognac and Cherves-Richemont (FFRandonnée Charente committee).
Route: OpenStreetMap contributors. Elevation: IGN’s RGE ALTI®, one point every 50 m. Text checked on 12 November 2026.
Other GR trails: Mediterranean and Provence, Massif Central
