The Tarn’s Tuscany

Car park on the church square.

(S/E) Head towards the central square (town hall).

(1) Walk along the square on the town hall side, following Rue du Vieil Hôpital. When you reach Place Emmanuel Turle, turn left and follow Avenue Jules Ferry. Walk past a school, then turn right towards the Tarn and walk past Château de Bellevue.

(2) Go round the lake on the right and, at the far end, turn left back towards the road. Leave the lakeside, cross the roundabout and take the Route de Saurs opposite, following it to the junction (cross).

(3) Turn left, then immediately right onto a path through the vineyards. At the junction with another path, turn left towards the^GR®46.

(4) Follow the^GR®46to the right, heading north, following the red and white markings. Further on, cross the D18.

(5) Shortly afterwards, leave the^GR®46and head right along the paths between the vineyards, keeping a general north-easterly direction; turn right onto the road, then, before the junction, turn left again onto the paths between the vineyards, still keeping a general north-easterly direction. Turn right onto the road, then left at the junction and continue for about a hundred metres.

(6) Join the^GR®®46 again and turn right.

(7) Cross a road in Saurs, then another 200 m further on, and continue for a further 800 m or so.

(8) Leave the^GR®® via the second path on the left to cross the D18 and head up the opposite side towards the woods to the north as far as Grisou.

(9) Turn briefly left onto the road that leads downhill, then, after 100 m, turn right onto a narrow path through the woods. Go over a hill and follow the valley floor until you reach a road at Pétro.

(10) Follow it to the right until you reach a junction. Turn left onto the road that crosses the stream, then very soon take a path on the right.

(11) Follow this stony track, which heads towards Le Pouget. Pass through this hamlet and continue to the junction.

(12) Turn right onto the road to Montaigut, then left as you go downhill, and left again at the Fork in the road for 200 m.

(13) Turn left, heading due south, onto a grassy path that descends towards a small valley, then runs diagonally alongside a stream. You’ll reach a road.

(14) Head back up the road opposite and walk through the hamlet of Les Ravalisses to reach a crossroads.

(15) Turn left, then go straight on round the bend in the road and, at the top of a short, steep slope, you’ll reach the Chapel of Montaigut.

(16) Return to the crossroads.

(15) Head straight on, then immediately, before the cemetery, turn right down the path, marked^PR® Yellow. Join a road and follow it to the left for about 250 m.

(17) At the junction at the bottom of the valley, turn right and head uphill towards the hamlet of Les Alberts.

(18) Pass through the hamlet and continue along the^{PR® path}, which leads into the forest on the hillside. Leave a path to Loubersac on your right.

(19) At the junction with a path, head down to the left towards the Ruisseau de Robisteau. Cross it and head back up towards Saint-Étienne de Vionan. Reach this hamlet.

(20) At the top, by the cross, follow the road to the left, continuing to follow the^PR® markings^. Keep left at the fork.

(21) Follow a path on the left which descends through the meadows. Keep to the yellow markings and, further up, you’ll reach a road.

(22) Follow it to the right, passing a road on your right, and you’ll reach the entrance to Saint-Salvy de Coutens.

(23) Do not go through the hamlet; instead, as soon as you enter, take the path on the right. Follow it to the D18.

(24) Carefully follow this road on the left for about 300 metres, then cross to the right to go round the Bernis estate, following the yellow markings. At the end of the street, on leaving Bernis, continue along the path in the same direction.

(25) Shortly afterwards, turn left onto a path between the vineyards. First turn left then right at the road and continue through the vineyards. You’ll reach a junction.

(26) Keep following the^{PR® trail}, which veers slightly to the right, heading due south. Cross the D14, then carry on straight ahead until you reach the junction after Le Griffoulet.

(27) Take a small road on the right, then at the junction, take a path on the left that follows a stream. At the road junction, first turn right then left and carry on in the same direction.

(28) Cross the D988, go under the railway line, then turn left onto Rue de l’Enclos and then right onto Avenue de la Poste. You’ll arrive at the central square.

(1) Cross it diagonally to return to the church car park (S/E).

Picnic shelter and beautiful views over the wine-growing valley at the Montaigut chapel.

Water point at the Montaigut cemetery.

The Visorando app is useful for the unmarked sections; given the length of this walk, you mustn’t get lost.

In Lisle-sur-Tarn: 13th-century church and large covered square.