Marathon de la Loire

A royal river, the Loire is a land of châteaux AND running, as the Marathon de la Loire perfectly demonstrates. Plain and simple. Are you in?

What you'll find there:

• A marathon, a half-marathon and a combined event;
• A breathtaking view of the local heritage, plenty to keep you entertained;
• Aid stations, pacers, shuttles and post-race care;

Course focus:

Head to Saumur for the start of the Marathon de la Loire. Open your eyes wide, because the landscapes you're about to run through are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Between ancient boatmen's villages and troglodyte villages nestled on the banks of Europe's last wild river, you're in for a treat. Well, not too wild, hopefully, as the combined event includes 12 km of canoeing in pairs! Don't panic, equipment is provided. Let's hope you don't get seasick — it would be a shame if your pricey energy gels made a run for it. To recover from the excitement (and stock up on energy gels again), be sure to drop by the race village, which features more than 40 exhibitors.

4 (very) good reasons to take part:

• The course runs alongside the river, making it particularly flat (personal best, anyone?);
• The food and drink area in the race village to get you back on your feet;
• Live music entertainment every kilometre to keep you going;
• The perfect excuse to go and visit a few châteaux de la Loire.

Results:

• 2026
• 2025
• 2024