The route taken by the GR654 does not correspond to either the historic Northern (Bourges) or Southern (Nevers) branches, but is a kind of amalgam of the two. (Compare with other guides, e.g. by Chassain or Chevolleau). This topoguide is more recent than #02432 (2001) (Namur to Nevers) but covers a different section of the route (Vézelay to Périgueux).