Trails in Eure-et-Loir

Don't be fooled by appearances, running in the department is not a simple walk in the park. While Beauce offers you endless straight paths where the wind will be your toughest opponent, it’s to the west and the Perche Regional Natural Park that you should turn for some elevation 📈. There you will find the necessary positive elevation gain to heat up your thighs in dense and humid forests. The trails there are technical, sometimes muddy, perfect for an authentic trail run where you will encounter more deer than cars 🦌. It's a perfect mix between mental endurance on the plateaus and explosive relaunches in the undergrowth.

Your run will often be guided by the spire of the Chartres Cathedral, visible for miles around and a UNESCO world masterpiece. While crossing towns, you'll feel the history of France, from the lands of Kings towards Maintenon to the legacy of Jean Moulin, former prefect of the department. After checking the trail calendar and clocking your miles, it's time for the local reward because sport builds appetite 😋. Treat yourself to a Pâté de Chartres (ideally in a crust) or, for sweetness 🍬, the famous Mentchikoffs, those praline candies coated in Swiss meringue. It’s light, it melts, and it's just what you need for recovery 🍬.

Eure-et-Loire offers various events that attract runners from all over the region. The Trail in Chartres en lumière is the local star, allowing you to discover the lower and upper town (and its famous stairs) at night in a magical ambiance ✨. For nature lovers, the Trail de Ménilles Vallée d'Eure offers a bucolic and rolling route along the river, ideal for setting a personal best. If you're looking for an original setting, Atipik Trail will have you running at the foot of Vauban's unfinished aqueduct, a unique backdrop in France. Lastly, for those who want to experience the hills, the races around Nogent-le-Rotrou in the Perche often offer wilder and more demanding routes 🌲.