Long traverse Centre and Loire Valley · Massif Central · South-West
From the banks of the Loire to Toulouse, the GR46 crosses George Sand’s Berry, the Limousin, the causses of the Quercy and the Aveyron gorges, before the vineyards of Gaillac.
From Tours to Toulouse, over 971 km.
The GR46 links Tours, in Indre-et-Loire, to Toulouse, in Haute-Garonne. This long lowland and mid-altitude mountain route crosses central and south-western France, from the Loire valley to the Limousin and then the Quercy, passing mainly through eight departments. Along the way, it crosses other GRs and Ways of St James, notably at Rocamadour.
From Tours, it heads up the Indre valley via Loches, Châtillon-sur-Indre and Buzançais to Châteauroux, then crosses the bocage of the Boischaut and the Vallée Noire, in George Sand country, around La Châtre. It enters the Creuse at Boussac, passes through Chambon-sur-Voueize and Aubusson, then climbs towards the Millevaches plateau via Royère-de-Vassivière.
In the Corrèze, Corrèze Tourisme describes it from Lacelle, in the heart of the Millevaches Regional Nature Park, to Turenne, one of the Most Beautiful Villages of France, via Treignac, a small town of character, and Uzerche, the “pearl of the Limousin”, in the Vézère valley. In the Lot, it passes through Martel and Rocamadour, crosses the causse to Labastide-Murat, in the Causses du Quercy Regional Nature Park, then reaches the Lot valley at Vers and Saint-Cirq-Lapopie.
The GR46 then enters the Tarn-et-Garonne via Caylus and Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val, in the Aveyron gorges, then the hilltop villages of Penne, Bruniquel and Puycelsi. After Cahuzac-sur-Vère and the Gaillac vineyards, it passes through Lisle-sur-Tarn and Rabastens before entering Toulouse. Very long, it is most often walked in sections.
Tours
Tours has two stations, Tours in the town centre and Saint-Pierre-des-Corps a few minutes away, served by TGVs from Paris-Montparnasse (about 1 hour according to the tourist office); trains also run from Paris-Austerlitz. The GR46 starts from the centre of Tours.
Toulouse
Toulouse-Matabiau station is linked by TGV to Bordeaux and Paris-Montparnasse, and served by metro line A (Marengo-SNCF station).
With no high mountains, the GR46 can be walked from spring to autumn. Spring and early autumn avoid the intense summer heat on the causses of the Quercy and in the Tarn; in winter, the short days make the stages feel longer and the paths can be waterlogged. Out of season, check that accommodation is open.
Moderate
No high mountains or technical sections, but a very long traverse, with repeated climbs and descents in the Corrèze valleys, the Aveyron gorges and on the causses. Corrèze Tourisme, for example, rates the stage from Uzerche to Vigeois, along the Vézère, as difficult.
12 gîtes, 1 unstaffed hut, 1 youth hostel and 68 B&Bs
Gîtes d’étape, B&Bs, hotels and campsites line the route, though unevenly from one area to another. At very popular sites such as Rocamadour or Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, it is best to book early in summer. In the Lot, the Vallée de la Dordogne tourist office includes the GR46 in its guide to the Ways of St James, useful for finding pilgrim accommodation.
None of the FFRandonnée committees consulted reports any regulations specific to the GR46. To bivouac, ask the consent of the landowner or the commune; during the hunting season, respect the signs for hunting drives.
The towns and villages at the end of each stage (Loches, Châteauroux, Aubusson, Uzerche, Rocamadour, Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val, Gaillac) let you stock up; in between, carry water and food for the day, especially on the causses. In the Corrèze, the stations at Lacelle, Uzerche, Vigeois, Estivaux, Allassac and Turenne let you follow the path without a car, according to Corrèze Tourisme. In November 2026, no diversion on the GR46 was reported by the Indre-et-Loire, Corrèze and Haute-Garonne committees.
TrekGR stage plan: each stage ends where you can sleep. Actual walking time excluding breaks (DIN 33466 standard).
282 places to stay near the route, from refuges to campsites.
No current alerts for this GR (checked on 12 November 2026). All live updates →
It starts in Tours, in Indre-et-Loire, and ends in Toulouse, in Haute-Garonne. Corrèze Tourisme presents it as the GR that links Tours to Toulouse (Corrèze Tourisme).
Mainly eight: Indre-et-Loire, Indre, Creuse, Corrèze, Lot, Tarn-et-Garonne, Tarn and Haute-Garonne, in three regions (Centre-Val de Loire, Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Occitanie).
Yes. In the Lot, it passes through Martel and then Rocamadour, where it crosses the GR6, before crossing the causse to Labastide-Murat and reaching the Lot valley.
Largely, yes. In the Corrèze, Corrèze Tourisme states that the whole route can be walked from the stations at Lacelle, Uzerche, Vigeois, Estivaux, Allassac and Turenne (Brive Tourisme). Tours and Toulouse are served by TGV.
Locally. In the Indre, it has returned to its original route near the Châteauroux racecourse after works, and now passes near the Déols lapidary museum (FFRandonnée, 2018). In the Corrèze, the link between the GR440 and the GR46 on the Millevaches plateau was re-waymarked in 2021.
Route: OpenStreetMap contributors. Elevation: IGN’s RGE ALTI®, one point every 50 m. Text checked on 12 November 2026.
