Angélus Trail 2027

Photo credits: Stephane Debove

The event in a few words

Great! I am a daily prayer practiced in commemoration of the mystery of the Incarnation. I am rung 3 times a day, in the morning, at noon and in the evening. I am made up of 3 Hail Marys. Tradition has it that the Christian stops working to pray me. I am, I am, I am? I am the Angélus! ✝️ Ah Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes!

Now that you know what it is, you’re ready to go for a spin on the Camino de Santiago on the Angélus Trail 👼. Coming to run this event, which takes place in May 🗓️ in Cahors in the Lot📍 (known for its cathedral that’s more than 900 years old 😲) is a truly unique experience—and you’ll quickly understand why. The race follows the off-format principle: no timing, so relax, take it easy! 🎤 You’ll see, Occitanie has a whole Lot of surprises in store for you 🎁, including a multitude of routes 🤓. First, an 18 km starting from Vers is offered as a trail 🏃 or Nordic walking 🥾. Otherwise, you can choose between a 46 km trail that starts in Labastide or the event’s longest distance, an 80 km starting from Rocamadour which can be done as a 3-person relay 🤝🏻.

Depending on the route you choose, you’ll therefore set off from different towns. Like a pilgrim, you’ll follow part of the Way of Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle 🎒. A little extra for the brave who signed up for the 80 km: the start is at the Notre-Dame de Rocamadour sanctuary, an absolutely magnificent and unique place to begin your race 😍. Do you need a good Cause to come? We have one: that of Quercy 😂. This regional natural park 🌳, you’ll cross from end to end and you’ll be delighted by its wooded 🌲 and wild 🐆 landscapes. Although the courses include quite a bit of elevation gain 📈, they are not especially difficult. Keep in mind that you’re still in for 2,100 m D+ on the 80 km, 1,500 m D+ on the 49 km and 500 m D+ on the 19 km 😅. They will, however, offer you viewpoints as beautiful as they are varied over the region 👀. Indeed, the Roman Aqueduct of Divona or Mont-Saint-Cyr ⛰️ (from which you’ll have a magnificent panorama over Cahors) are among the places you’ll pass through. Along the way, you’ll also catch sight of the Carlucet Windmill 😮. No need to charge after it like Don Quixote does: it’s sublime and part of the region’s heritage, so hands off! ✋ You’ll also run toward La Carderie and then the imposing Alzou Valley and the Vers Valley half full. In the end, your only concern is to reach the finish located in Cahors before 7 p.m. 🕖, where you’ll be welcomed by the sound of the Angélus 🔔 of the Saint-Étienne Cathedral ⛪.

Beyond the spectacular 🤩 course, the Angélus Trail is also a friendly and unique atmosphere 🥰. The organizers’ goal is to showcase the local heritage of the Lot by crossing the Causses du Quercy 🏞️. To do so, they’ve got a discovery of local specialties 😋 in store for you, both at the aid stations and at the finish 🏁, where you can enjoy a typical Quercy meal featuring walnut tart 🌰, duck fritons 🦆, or cabécous 🐐… But that’s not all: you’ll also get entertainment 🥳 and a visit of the Cahors cathedral and its cloister ⛪️. By the way, if you’re among the finishers, you’ll be entitled to a small unusual gift: a sportelle, the badge of the Rocamadour pilgrim. Clearly, this Angélus really isn’t like the others 😄.

If you still have a bit of time to explore the surroundings 🚶, we recommend going to take a look 👀 at the Pech Merle Cave, one of the oldest in Europe 🇪🇺. For a little relaxation, Lac Vert is located in the commune of Catus. As for specialties, there’s plenty to do: you can taste black truffle or the Mique accompanied by the famous red wine of Cahors—to be enjoyed in moderation, of course 🍷.

Coming to the Angélus Trail is a real Cahors-norm adventure! 🤯

4 reasons to join this race

No pressure 😎
The special thing about this event is surely the fact that the trails are not timed ⏳. There’s no time pressure or cut-off times. The only instruction you have to follow is to arrive before the sound of the Angélus at 7 p.m. in Cahors ⏰. The aim of the trail isn’t the pursuit of performance, but rather discovering the local heritage and experiencing an atypical race 😉.
Breathtaking views 👀
The routes start in three different towns but share the same finish point: Cahors. To reach this medieval-looking town 🏰, you’ll cross the Causses du Quercy with its magnificent greenery and stunning views over the Lot River and the area’s authentic villages 🌳.
A unique pilgrimage ✝️
This trail looks just like a pilgrimage, because you’ll follow part of the routes to Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle. Runners on the 80 km will even have the chance to begin their quests at the Notre-Dame de Rocamadour sanctuary, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site 📖. The finishes for all 3 distances are also at the illustrious Cahors cathedral, which you’ll be able to visit once your effort is over 🔎.
A warm atmosphere 🤗
Beyond the spiritual side and the race’s landscapes, what makes the Angélus famous is certainly its family-friendly, convivial atmosphere 🤝. Unusual aid stations, entertainment at the finish, a visit to the cathedral, a sportelle as a reward, a meal with local products after the race... In short, no matter what, the day after the event you’ll only want one thing: to come back next year! 👋

A distance for every taste

Trail 80 km

TrailThe most popular
  • End of May 2027
  • Elevation gain : 2100mD+
  • 1 loopx80 km

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