Quercy 100km Hike

A 6-day walking loop, 115km with an elevation gain of 2980m.

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Far from the tourist trails

A beautiful 6-day walking loop that invites you to explore the valleys carved out by the Célé and Lot rivers. This route brings together several labeled trails, such as the GR 65, the GR 651, and the GR 36.

Day 1: from Orniac to Marcilhac-sur-Célé

15.23km - D+ 493m

This first stage gently takes us to the heart of the Causse , the region's defining characteristic. The vegetation follows one after the other. Sometimes rocky and arid, sometimes humid, sheltered by oak forests.

We quickly arrive at the first key stage: Vieux-Sauliac . The panoramic trail follows the Pierre-Levée path and invites you to follow the ochre cliffs. Strolling among the semi-troglodyte houses allows you to imagine the life of the first Sauliacois, harsh but ingenious.

Marcilhac-sur-Célé is the starting point for this first day in the Célé Valley . Rocked by the eponymous river, the gently flowing village invites you to disconnect. At its heart stands the Abbey of Saint-Pierre, surrounded by medieval pedestrian streets. Partially destroyed during the feudal wars, it was listed as a Historic Monument in 1906.

Day 2: from Marcilhac to Espagnac-Sainte-Eulalie

17.36km - D+ 490m

Continue to follow this fragmented valley, with the Célé River as its common thread, still on the GR 651, more intimate than the traditional Way of St. James. The landscapes follow one another from Saint-Sulpice to Brengues, all different, even if the buildings serve as a connection between the centuries-old villages.

Espagnac-Sainte-Eulalie is the major stop on this second day of hiking in the Lot. At the foot of the Causse, cradled by a meander of the Célé, the small village has only a handful of inhabitants but remains a valuable stopover for pilgrims making their way to Compostela. The town owes its popularity to the Val Paradis Priory, whose first construction dates back to the 12th century, and its most contemporary, 1293. A community of nuns prospered there for nearly six centuries until the French Revolution, when the Priory suffered its decline and abandonment. In 1925, it was listed as a Historic Monument, notably for its preserved square turret, unique in France.

Day 3: from Espagnac-Sainte-Eulalie to Gréalou

22.50km - D+ 513m

Leave Espagnac-Sainte-Eulalie to reach a village as small as it is charming: Corn . Moss, wild garlic, the sound of water, the hike in the hollow of the Célé valley is more than bucolic. The feudal castle that can be seen in the distance announces the imminent arrival of Béduer. Here, we leave the GR 651 for the GR 65 to Gréalou .

Day 4: from Gréalou to Larnagol

19.28km - D+ 295m

As you leave the village of Gréalou, don't miss the typical causse huts and the dolmens of Pech Laglaire.

We then switch from the Célé Valley to the Lot Valley, which is more popular but still contains hidden gems. Like Larnagol A charming village with its staircases overlooked by its proud castle. The buildings are traditional, the atmosphere always terribly gentle. There reigns a seductive atmosphere of relaxation.

Day 5: from Larnagol to Saint-Cirq-Lapopie

20.05km - D+ 687m

Nestled in the bend of the river, the village of Calvignac rises to the summit of the Rocher de la Baume. After a slight climb, you'll find a beautiful view of the Lot Valley , which can be discovered by following the "viewpoints" trail.

Further on, it is a geological curiosity as brutal as it is impressive. The Igue de Crégols is located between Cornus and Crégols in the heart of the Causses du Quercy Regional Natural Park . This vertiginous chasm is almost 80 meters in diameter and 40 meters in height. The cause of this sinkhole, characteristic of karst terrain, was water, which maliciously infiltrated and weakened the rock. A depression was thus created there, causing the main ceiling to collapse.

The Lot is a department steeped in history, as evidenced by Saint-Cirq-Lapopie , a fascinating village preferred by the French and one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France , where you will spend the night.

Its perched and strategic location is no accident. At the time of Quercy's independence, Saint-Cirq-Lapopie commanded the navigation of the Lot. An important place of passage and trade, the village grew rapidly.

Day 6: from Saint-Cirq-Lapopie to Orniac

19.81km - D+ 502m

At the exit of the village, take the towpathcarved into the cliff face and a witness to the flourishing era of boatmen. We then find the GR 651 by crossing the Bouziès bridge. As you approach Cabrerets (another very beautiful village in the Lot!), don't miss a visit to the Grotte du Pech Merle , a major site of parietal art in France. These prehistoric paintings trace the course of humanity and go back 25,000 years. Along the 1km of gallery, we discover around sixty divinely preserved animal figures.

The 100km of Quercy promises a discovery of the harsh landscapes which, over time, have transformed into a truly poetic tableau retracing the history and identity of this department which has remained discreet.