Trails in Haute-Saône

The French Little Finland awaits you with open arms

No need to look for your passport, you're indeed in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, but the change of scenery is total on the Thousand Ponds Plateau. It's a true aquatic labyrinth shaped by glaciers 12,000 years ago, nicknamed "Little Finland" for its breathtaking Scandinavian landscapes 🇫🇮. It’s the perfect playground for a trail in Haute-Saône rich in sprinting and wild panoramas. Did you know that almost 48% of the department is covered by forests? Needless to say, you won’t lack shade or oxygen to perform 🌳. Here, you run amidst ferns, skirt shimmering water bodies, and get surprised by the local biodiversity, from herons to elusive deer 🦌. It’s a true nature race available to you, far from asphalt and urban pollution 💨.

From Jacques Brel to Le Corbusier: a heritage that packs a punch

It's impossible to talk about this region without mentioning Vesoul, its prefecture made famous by Jacques Brel's legendary song in 1968. "You wanted to see Vesoul," well, you're going to see it, but running this time 🎶! The heritage here is not limited to French songs, as you can come across architectural masterpieces like the Notre-Dame du Haut chapel in Ronchamp. Designed by the famous Le Corbusier, it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers a concrete curve as impressive as the elevation that awaits you on some paths ⛪. If you pass through Luxeuil-les-Bains, don’t forget it's a historic spa town where the Romans already came to soothe their aches after exertion 🧖. It's this mix of history and geological toughness that makes each race in Haute-Saône unique in its kind 🧱.

Cancoillotte, Pinot, and a steel mentality

Let's talk little, let's talk fuel, because after the effort, the comfort is sacred here. You can't leave without tasting Cancoillotte, this typical melted cheese with garlic or yellow wine, which has the advantage of being one of the leanest in France, perfect for your athlete's diet 🧀. On the sporting side, the region has raised a champion who often swaps his bike for trail sneakers in the winter: Thibaut Pinot. The child of Mélisey, legend of the Tour de France, regularly treads the Vosges Saônoises trails to train hard, proving that this land shapes champions with strong character 🚴. By running here, you follow in the footsteps of local legends who know the value of effort and humility in the face of the slope 📈. It’s this "local" and combative ambiance that you will find at the starting line 🏁.

Local gems not to be missed

Now that you're all warmed up, it's time to get serious and book a bib for one of the area's flagship events. You can test yourself on the famous Trail of the 2 Rivers, a magnificent race that winds between water and forest for constant visual pleasure 🌊. Finally, the Trail of the Vosges Saônoises is the flagship event for those who want to reach the department's peaks and measure themselves against the harshness of the terrain 🏔️.