Athora Bruges Marathon 2026

Venice is such a famous city that many towns across Europe are compared to it: thus, Annecy is nicknamed the Venice of the Alps, Nantes was once called the Venice of the West, and Bruges goes by the nickname Venice of the North 🤓. The capital of West Flanders, it hosts in October the Athora Bruges Marathonin Belgium 🇧🇪. So come with us across the border, we’ll introduce you to this must-see Belgian running event 🍻.

The Athora Bruges Marathon takes you on a journey to discover the wonders of the city and its surroundings. No matter your level, you’ll find a distance that suits you: the marathon will delight the most seasoned runners 🏃‍♂️, while regular runners will flock to the half marathon 😎. If you don't feel up for tackling the challenge of these two great distances 💪, you can always opt for the 8 km walk, allowing you to enjoy the beauties of the city at your own pace 😌.

You might not know it (at least not yet), but Bruges is a city rich in its culture and heritage. The canals, which earn it the comparison to Venice, make Brugge famous (no, we didn't make a mistake: it's the Flemish name 😜). From the small boats 🛥️ that sail on the water, tourists can admire the majestic Belfries, huge towers used for keeping watch 🕶️. The one in Bruges, attached to the town hall and 83 meters high 🤯, offers those brave enough to climb its steps 😯 a splendid view of the city and its surroundings 🤩. With a good pair of binoculars and a clear sky ☀️, you can even spot the North Sea, so dear to the late Jacques Brel 🎶.

Speaking of the great Jacques, did you know that the famous chocolatier Jeff de Bruges was named in homage to a song by the famous Belgian singer? 🎤 The company's founder was a huge fan of the artist ✨. Chocolate 🍫 is the city's flagship food, enjoyed in a thousand ways 😋. Of course, you can savor the classic Belgian specialties like mussels, fries 🍟, or even waffles. The city also has a few dishes of its own, like waterzooi, the equivalent of our Marseille bouillabaisse 🍲, Flemish rabbit 🐇, shrimp-stuffed tomatoes 🦐, or Bruges-style pork fillet, where the meat is cooked in beer 🍺. Speaking of which, this alcohol (to be consumed in moderation, but you already know that 🤨) plays an important role in Brugian culture: it's estimated that 350 out of 1,500 Belgian beers come from Bruges, so it would take you a lifetime to try them all...

Does this description make your mouth water? 🤤 Then join us in October for the Athora Bruges Marathon 🥳.