Short circular around Marsal

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This short route is ideal for getting back into shape. It is easy and runs alongside the Tarn for long enough to allow for a bit of effort at the end of the route, in the middle of the woods.

Details

n°874377
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.77 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 689 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 666 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,178 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 604 ft
Downloads
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Photos

The bed of the Tarn
The Tarn
La Maurinié
Marsal Church

Description of the walk

Park in the market square in Marsal.
The route is not signposted and follows sections ofthe GR®®36(Red and White) as well as sections marked in yellow, the name of which is unknown.
It is advisable to set off with a map, and a GPS might prove useful.

GR®36 – Red and White markings

(S/E) Set off along the street between the market hall on your right and the church on your left, heading towards Maurinié Haute. At the Barry junction, ignore the road on the right, which will be the route back. Stay on the current road until you reach a Fork in the road. At the Fork in the road, turn right.

(1) As you approach Maurinié Haute, head up to the Chapel of Nicolaï Greschny to visit it.

No signposting

(2) Greschny Chapel. After visiting the chapel, retrace your steps to the fork.

Yellow signposting

(1) Turn onto the path on the right to leave theGR®®36and head down towards the Tarn. The path does not appear on the IGN map but is visible on the ground. At the road, turn right and follow the river.

Yellow signposting andGR®®36

Walk on until you reach the D172, where there is a faint yellow signpost.

(3) At the edge of the D172, take a sharp right-hand bend to climb up above the tunnel. A shaded dirt track, running parallel to the road, branches off to the left, rising above it. The track ends once again beside the D172 in front of a small lay-by.

Yellow markings

(4) Leave theGR®®36by heading up to the right along the wide dirt track. Follow the yellow markings with confidence, as the IGN map is incorrect. The dirt track leads onto the tarmac at the entrance to Gougeac.

(5) At the four-way junction, cross over and continue straight ahead to rejoin the path at the edge of the hamlet, in front of a water reservoir.

(6) At the junction, turn left and follow the bend. The path passes in front of a water tower and descends gently to the hamlet of Le Fournials. Walk through Le Fournials.

(7) Go through the small tunnel under the D172 and continue straight on towards the Barry junction. At Barry, turn left to return to the centre of Marsal (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 614 ft - Marsal Church and Market Hall - Tarn (rivère)
  2. 1 : mi 0.74 - alt. 696 ft - Junction by the chapel
  3. 2 : mi 0.82 - alt. 728 ft - Greschny Chapel
  4. 3 : mi 2.37 - alt. 643 ft - Turn right onto the D172
  5. 4 : mi 2.85 - alt. 636 ft - Head up to the right along a wide dirt track
  6. 5 : mi 3.72 - alt. 1,171 ft - Gougeac
  7. 6 : mi 4.06 - alt. 968 ft - Turn left and follow the bend
  8. 7 : mi 4.51 - alt. 646 ft - Crossing the D172
  9. S/E : mi 4.77 - alt. 614 ft - Marsal Church and Market Hall

Notes

Hiker’s facilities
Water point on Place de Marsal in front of the market hall.

Worth a visit

Viewpoint.
The banks and beach of the River Tarn.
Marsal Church.
Greschny Chapel in La Maurinié.
To visit the chapel, ring the bell loudly; Michaël Greschny or his wife will come to open the door for you and explain the interior.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Downloads
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Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 10 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
SMeredith
SMeredith
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk on the outskirts of Albi. The hamlet of Marsal is charming and the section that follows the meander of the Tarn is beautiful, especially as the river is enclosed, making it quite rare to be able to walk alongside it. The climb that follows is a little challenging but offers beautiful views. Unfortunately, the wooded hill has suffered some severe cutting.
The return to the hamlet is easy. We did this hike in December in grey weather, but it was quite a change of scenery.

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Aga
Aga

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant short walk with beautiful views of the river.

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GAGNAC RANDO
GAGNAC RANDO

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike, with no particular difficulties. Beautiful views. No difficulty navigating the route, as we followed the GPS track. The hamlet of La Maurinié Haute is very beautiful, with its chapel dedicated to Nicolaï Greschny, which we were unable to visit despite ringing the bell several times.

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Les rebelles de la forêt
Les rebelles de la forêt

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice route, a little difficult to find your way at point 4 because trees 🌳 have been cut down and the landmarks with them.
We enjoyed it and will do it again, perhaps in the other direction 😉👍

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madydou
madydou ★

Good evening, Chris,
My mistake
I just did the route again this afternoon.
Indeed, at point (4), you have to leave the GR and climb the PR trail.
I will amend the description accordingly.
Have a good evening.

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ChrisCesar
ChrisCesar

If I'm wrong, please let me know and I'll amend my comment. Because this little hike is really great!

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madydou
madydou ★

Thank you for your time and for clarifying this for me.
I plan to return on Monday, 2 May.
I will then see if there is any need to modify the route and/or description.

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ChrisCesar
ChrisCesar

The signpost on the right indicates that this is a PR trail, and the GR sign is a cross, so in principle this is not the route to take if you are following the GR. But in any case, the map is clear enough to continue the walk without getting lost and enjoy this pleasant moment.

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madydou
madydou ★
• Edited:

Hello,
There is no mistake at the point (4). There, in the middle of a small traffic island between two roads, you must climb the GR trail that starts on the right.
At Gougeac, you must leave it and follow the yellow markings on an electricity pole on your left.

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ChrisCesar
ChrisCesar

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 17, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful, easy hike. The starting point is in a tiny hamlet, so you can start wherever you want without any problems. The scenery is very pleasant. There is an error in the description: from point (4), do not follow the GR36 markings, but the yellow PR markings. The yellow markings will then easily guide you to the finish.

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Vendinielle
Vendinielle

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

Sorry, but I didn't really like the route, even though it was also recommended by Rando Tarn. Only the Maurinié site is really worth seeing. There's a lot of road at the start and few opportunities to enjoy the banks of the Tarn. When you reach the path, it just overlooks the road and then you have to put up with the noise of the cars below. The final descent offers very few views. Be careful, there are dogs running loose. I finally parked in front of the cemetery to get some space, which allowed me to avoid walking back along the circular starting loop, which doesn't offer much to admire. A shame. GPS useful.

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sabe81
sabe81

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 20, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

bring your swimsuit for a dip in the Tarn

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madydou
madydou ★

Hello,
I don't understand the initial difficulty that you both encountered.
The description seems clear to me when I reread it.
The hamlet is tiny, there is only one street between the church and the market hall, and that is the "very centre".
At the wrought iron crossroads, just continue straight ahead.
At the point (3), it says to go up the path on the right, in front of the road and the visible tunnel.
I hope these details will help future hikers find their way.

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JJB81
JJB81

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 23, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The departure point is unclear because there is a first intersection in the village that confuses the reader.
Zoom in on point 3. It is not obvious from a quick and direct reading that you have to go through the bridge tunnel (even though this is specified in the text and you just have to follow the yellow markings).
Several muddy sections after point 3 at this time of year.

A pleasant hike with lovely views of the Tarn.

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Pacheco12
Pacheco12

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 14, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The start is not clear; in fact, you have to follow the yellow line, as this hike is fully marked.

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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.