Races in Hérault

This department has a dual identity with its beaches and seaside resorts that capture a typical southern atmosphere, and its natural heritage that makes the hinterland particularly appealing. You won't have to look far for a trail in the 34, between the Causses, the Cévennes, and the Gorges of the Hérault. These exceptional natural environments are the playground for numerous races!

We say yes to nature! Architecture, too! From the enchanting Pont du Diable, a UNESCO World Heritage site, to the lively arenas of Béziers, this corner of Occitania will charm you with its attractions. Want to enjoy the great outdoors? The Pic Saint-Loup (or Pic Sans-Loup as we've checked and there really are no wolves there!) is an ideal spot for a beautiful mountain hike in the biodiversity of the Cévennes. If the climb hasn't worn you out, from up there, you can see the most beautiful villages in the Hérault: Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert with its abbey, Olargues with its medieval remains, or the Cathar city of Minerve. Squint a bit and if the weather’s nice, you'll see the sea in the distance, especially "The Venice of Languedoc", Sète, home to Georges Brassens, the Languedoc jousting, and the TV series "Demain Nous Appartient" (something for everyone). Immerse yourself in the legendary Saint Louis festival around the beach and Rhône canal. Don’t forget to savor the oysters from the Thau lagoon with a glass of Languedoc wine, overlooking the port, as the Hérault is the second-largest wine-producing department in France (in hectares of vineyards)!

The heart of the former Languedoc-Roussillon, Montpellier, beats to the rhythm of student life and endless café terraces on the Place de la Comédie under the blazing sun. We understand if you prefer to relax there instead of visiting the city's must-sees: les Arceaux, Saint-Pierre Cathedral, the Arc de Triomphe, or the Promenade du Peyrou where you can digest your grisettes (the local sweet) while lying in the grass. In every season, the city nicknamed "the gifted one" offers unique moments. In spring, the "FISE" excites the city's extreme sports enthusiasts just as the " Sunday Music Festival " in September awakens the music-loving residents on the airport tarmac. And then in summer under the blazing sun or winter's chilly weather (and still, we're talking southern cold), you can run alongside the Lez River and perhaps follow its path right into the sea at Palavas-les-Flots?

We promised that as a runner you'd find something to your liking here, and when it comes to races, Hérault doesn't disappoint! You might be tempted by the main event, the Montpellier Run Festival, challenge yourself at an Urban Trail in Béziers, hometown of Jean Moulin, or combine business with pleasure by running around the curious Pyramids of La Grande-Motte before strolling on the sand. Is it all a bit lacking in nature? The Garrigues region fills that gap and will satisfy your need for elevation with the Festa Trail in Saint-Mathieu-de-Tréviers. Running in the city, on the beach, in nature, what else?

Not all superheroes wear capes, but set your sights on Hérault!