From Mostuéjouls to Millau

(S) The route starts from the Calquière inn and guesthouse along the D907 towards Boyne and follows the banks of the Tarn for about 1 km. After the campsites, the road turns left at the entrance to the village to cross a stream via a bridge.
Signs pointing to the castle (Route des Seigneurs du Rouergue) and directional signs are helpful on this route.

(1) 100 m after the bridge, leave the main road and take another road on the right signposted "Peyrelevade". Once at the car park, continue uphill towards the fortress and walk along it to the parapet (remains of the ramparts), which offers a magnificent view of the valley.

(2) Take the path on the right with a sign for the "Namaste" lodge, which runs along the walls and descends north-west towards the valley, leaving a few houses on the left. You will come to a crossroads with a cross at a place called Lauradou.

(3) Follow the path opposite, alongside a house, which descends gently into the meadows. It comes to a road which you should follow to the left, continuing downhill. You will soon reach the first houses of Rivière-sur-Tarn before coming out onto the departmental road.

(4) Turn right to follow the road on the right-hand pavement. Pass in front of the church and shops, cross a stream and immediately turn right onto Rue du Palié towards the town hall. At the crossroads, first turn right then left to rejoin Rue du Palié and leave the village via Chemin du Pouget, which is a continuation of the road. The road comes to a sharp right-hand bend.

(5) Leave the road and follow the track that branches off to the left and climbs southwards through the woods for over a kilometre. Pass a track branching off to the right and arrive at a crossroads preceded by a "beware of trains" sign.

Red and white markings are visible from the railway crossing.

(6) Turn right to cross the railway line and immediately turn right onto the track that runs alongside the line. The track rises above the line and turns north-west. Leave a track on the right in the bends. The undergrowth gives way to fields. Reach an intersection with a track crossing at Les Graves.

(7) Turn left to gradually return south. In the middle of the fields, you will see old mazets (stone huts) at Les Combes. Pass by (^GR®® markings on the wall) and continue south. After more than a kilometre, you will reach a large farm where the track becomes a paved road. Follow the markings carefully because 300 m further on, when the road becomes a track again, a small stone column topped with a wrought iron cross marks the end of the markings.

(8) Take a narrow path hidden in the grass that descends gently to the left. This path crosses a track after 300 metres and continues southwards, ending at a tarmac road which you should follow to the left for about 200 metres.

(9) Leave the road on the left and take a path that descends further to the first houses and stone walls of Compeyre. Follow the markings that take you through the village, gradually descending to the left. Pass in front of the church.

(10) Below the church, take the street on the left after the snack bar (Place des Merlets) and then a narrow lane on the right, which offers a view of the railway viaduct and the crossing over the railway line. Cross the line and continue along the road (Rue Sainte-Claire) to reach the junction with the D907 at the entrance to Aiguessac.

(11) Cross the road and continue straight ahead into the car park, then go around it to enter the garden. Cross the stream via the footbridge and continue south along the Tarn under the poplar trees, following Rue de la Tannerie and then Quai du Tarn. Further on, leave the street and take a path that stays close to the river and leads to a footbridge that crosses it.

(12) Go up the stairs, then turn left to cross the bridge and arrive on the other bank in the commune of Paulhe. To visit the village, go straight up, then turn right, follow several bends and arrive at the junction with Rue des Églantiers.

(13) Take a marked path that climbs to the right towards the south and leads to the exit of Paulhe on the Route de Carbassas. Follow it to the right, leaving a road on the left 50 metres further on. The track overlooks the Tarn valley below. Looking back, you can enjoy beautiful views of the morning's route. On the way, you will reach the cemetery, in front of which there is a shaded area with benches where you can take a break. To the south, you can see the track leading to Carbassas and, in the distance, the valley widening towards Millau. The track descends, crosses a road and climbs back up to the first houses of the village.

(14) Keep left to climb towards the centre, then follow the red and white markings while admiring the massive stone houses. You will reach the Saint-Pierre Chapel.

(15) Turn right onto Rue des Hirondelles. At the village exit, continue straight south on Chemin des Plos as a track joins on the left. Pass orchards and greenhouses; the road becomes a track. After a long straight stretch with forest cover on the left, the track crosses another track and begins to turn towards Mas de Trauque. At the first steep bend, leave the track and continue straight ahead.

Off the marked trail

This last section deviates from the signposting for practical reasons. The track heading due south is not very well marked as it is rarely used. After 500 m in a straight line, take the path that turns right around a fence marking the boundary of the Mas Rougnous property. Go around it to the west and then join the track leading from the houses. Follow it downhill towards the south-west until you reach the departmental road that runs alongside the Tarn.

(17) Take care when following this road, which enters Millau via a series of campsites: there are no pavements before the campsites. After that, it is safer as the road is busy. Go around the roundabout and you will reach the bridge over the Tarn.

(18) Cross it, then cross the roundabout to take Avenue Gambetta opposite. Turn right onto Rue de la Fraternité, then left onto Rue du Sacré-Cœur to reach the Ibis hotel, today's stop (E).

(S) This seventh stage starts from La Calquière on the banks of the Tarn. We have deviated from the official^GR®®736route for logistical reasons, but also because this right bank is much less frequented by hikers and it is an opportunity to discover it while staying close to the river. It is classified as "moderately difficult" despite its length because the slopes are gentle and the path is pleasant, passing through numerous villages.

(17) As this stage takes place on a Sunday, we have changed the end of the stage from Carbassas because this section is very popular with mountain bikers who ride at high speed and the hill from Mas de Trauque becomes too dusty. The end of the stage therefore cuts through Mas Rougnous to follow the road along the campsites on the banks of the Tarn, even if it is more monotonous.

This stage passes through several small and large villages that you can take the time to walk through or visit.

(1) Boyne, a small village with stone houses; wine producer

Peyrelevade Fortress: in ruins, but impressive. Numerous information panels in the car park or at the entrance. There is a 'Namasté' stopover lodge nearby.

(4) Rivière-sur-Tarn: all shops, cafés, accommodation.

Compeyre: small grocery store, bakery, snack bar, many old houses.

Paulhe: many old houses, church, small shop.

(14) Carbassas: old houses, the road from Paulhe offers beautiful views with information panels on history and heritage.

(E) Millau: a must-see town at the edge of the Causses, at the confluence of the Tarn and Dourbie rivers. A town steeped in history: from antiquity to the Roman period (Graufesenque site) to the 20th century with the Larzac struggle and the construction of the viaduct. All shops, restaurants and accommodation, SNCF train station to Béziers or Neussargues.