Trails in Occitanie

13 departments, happiness or misfortune? 🫣 That’s putting it mildly: Occitanie is going to leave you spoiled for choice... With its 13 departments, which are: Ariège (09), Aude (11), Aveyron (12), the Gard (30), Haute-Garonne (31), the Gers (32), Hérault (34), the Lot (46), Lozère (48), the Hautes-Pyrénées (65), the Pyrénées-Orientales (66), the Tarn (81) and the Tarn-et-Garonne (82). Phew! 😅 With all these spots, you can imagine there are landscapes for every taste. With its coast on the Mediterranean to the East, the Pyrenees to the South, the Aquitaine Basin to the West, and the great Massif Central to the North, Occitanie is spoiled—and so are you, for that matter! ⚡️ And above all, don’t be afraid of the vibe, because people often say that in Occitanie life is good 🧘, so you’ll tell us all about it 💬. If even the vibe is there, what more could you ask for? 😍

A must-do! Discover 3 places you can’t miss! Start by visiting the Cité de Carcassonne—it’s easy to mispronounce 🥴, but above all it’s an unmissable place in the region. On the right bank of the Aude, this fortified medieval village is a true work of art 🖼️. Within it: 2 concentric walls, 3 km of ramparts and 52 visible towers, which today makes it a UNESCO World Heritage site 🔥. It’s a top-quality detour to admire the region 💕. To see life through rose-colored glasses, why not visit Toulouse? 🤌 It’s the Pink City of the south of France. This city is a must in Occitanie; with its crazy vibe 🎉, you won’t be able to get bored. In the center, pink buildings, of course 💗, lively streets, and muy muy bien food 😋. If that appeals to you and you’re a fan of Urban Trail, you can already jot down the Trail du Satuc ⛰️, which takes place in the city 🎀. Finally, end your stay in style by discovering the Gorges du Tarn, one of the most famous canyons in France 🇫🇷—nothing less. Between Lozère and Aveyron, plan a kayaking outing or a great hike 🥾 and admire this beautiful Massif Central! ⛰️ Cliffs, villages, waterways—everything you need to really enjoy 💫.

Otherwise... 👐 For die-hard trail fans, it’s obviously a joy. The hills sometimes bring to mind the Italian Tuscany 🇮🇹. Nearby, beautiful medieval towns (besides Carcassonne of course) are waiting for you with their historic monuments 🏰, like Albi, Tarbes or Foix... And if you’ve never seen the Cathedral of Albi, it’s a serious piece of history... The Cathar castles are also numerous to visit in the region 🏛️. Montpellier, Perpignan and Nîmes have plenty going for them. You also have the Pont du Gard, which carried water 💦 from Uzès to Nîmes. One thing’s for sure: it’s seen a lot of people go by, since it was built in the 1st century ! 🫨 The arenas of Nîmes are another must-see spot in the region. And for lovers ❤️ of nature, Occitanie has many privileged areas, like the Pyrenees National Park, the Cévennes Park and the Grands Causses Regional Park. To cool off, the Canal du Midi or the Gorges du Gardon will be ideal 🏞️.

The calendar of trails in Occitanie is packed! A little trip along the sea 🏝️—obviously everyone dreams of that. The Grand Raid de Camargue, La Marinade or the Trail de Collioure will immerse you in extraordinary seascapes 🌊. Several routes also offer courses that go over the soft southern sand! 🏖️ The Baleine en course is a great example, even if the name is original 😂. Other trails like l’Hivernale des Templiers, the Épicurienne, the Black Mountain Trail or the Luchon Aneto Trail are waiting to blow your mind, while your thighs do the work 😉! Want to test your limits ? Ultra-trails in Occitanie are there, like the Tarn Valley Trail, the Festival des Templiers or also the Grand Raid des Pyrénées, and they’ll know how to give you a hard time! 🦾 With a spot in the UTMB World Series circuit⭐️, come test yourself on the Veni Vici, a race that will take you on a real trip back in time 🤺. Otherwise, for a run through the cities 🌆, there are some too: the Nîmes Urban Trail or the Urban Race Narbonne!

Alright, with all that, we’ll let you check out the trail race calendar in Occitanie below... and happy running! 👟

*hello in Occitan.