Grand Raid of Camargue 2027

Come on, we're taking you on a tour of the land of bulls and cocardiers 🐂. You know, where you've got skin hardened by salt, eyes squinted by the sun, and where the sky meets the sea. Yes, it's the Camargue that waits for you for an authentic, magnificent, and breathtaking event: the Grand Raid of Camargue. 

There you have it, the scene is set 📍. You already feel like you're there, don't you? Hop hop hop, we forgot a final detail before diving in! 😅 And yes, the Camargue is much better with the accent, right? 🤌 So don't hold back for the rest of the page 🤣. At the beginning of October, in Salin-de-Giraud, in the Bouches-du-Rhône region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, we find the magnificent Grand Raid of Camargue 🐎. Under still mild autumn temperatures, you will be able to discover the riches of this jewel, proud of its history and its wild lands 🌿. 

No matter your running level and goals, the Camargue is welcoming to all! 😝 There are distances for every taste, and each route will take you running through the authentic territories of the area 🏃‍♂️. If you choose one of the major trails, of 100 km, 60 km, 42.195 km, 30 km or 21.095 km, you will lengthen your strides at the heart of the salt flats 🧂 and enjoy a dream finish at the foot of the ramparts of Aigues-Mortes 😍. The last distance, of 12 km, can be tackled running or walking. The Camargue bends over backward just for you! Well, you know us, we're the kind that says dream landscapes are earned... 🙄 Well, you've proved us wrong because here, only a few dozen meters of positive elevation await you! 📈 The flat and rolling course offered will allow you to more easily admire the preserved nature surrounding you 👌.

For you will be able to encounter incredible flora and fauna step by step, in the salt flats of the south 🤯. You will be struck by the vastness of these territories so characteristic of the region, with hectares stretching as far as the eye can see 😎. Their large stretches of blue or pink water subtly contrast with the ochre-colored paths that border them 🌊. The flamingos 🦩 and other migratory birds that peacefully inhabit them will surely charm you! 🥰 The Grand Raid of Camargue thus offers a unique opportunity to tread these preserved lands, usually off-limits. But this trail will also be an opportunity to discover another symbol of the Camargue culture: the manades 👨‍🌾. Places for raising Camargue horses and bulls, they still retain the authenticity that gives them their beauty today. Finally, depending on the distance you choose, you will tread beaches that have remained untouched because they are inaccessible by car. Between the seaside and salt flats, it's hard to find a more stunning landscape! 🤩

Just reading these lines (which you read with the accent, right? 😏), you can already feel both the beauty and fragility of the natural spaces that will surround you. The organizers have well understood the importance of preserving these incredible places, true gifts from Mother Nature! Laurent Grenier, founder of the Grand Raid of Camargue, aimed to create a sporting event entirely respectful of nature. Since 2020, the raid has been an eco-actor member of the Camargue biosphere reserve and has been eco-labeled by the Regional Natural Park of Camargue since 2019, a first for a sporting event. With respect for a nature charter, all actions carried out during the event aim towards the preservation of the Camargue territory. As Laurent Grenier says, "it is the awe of man before the beauty of life and nature that leads him to protect it" 🙌.

After your discovery of the Camargue territory and its jewels at racing speed, you can slow down the pace to extend your stay more leisurely 💆. Obviously, a visit to the Salt Flats of Aigues-Mortes appears as a must! 😏 On foot, by bike, or aboard the little train 🚂, you'll learn more about the flora and fauna of this place, as well as the work of salt workers, responsible for harvesting Camargue Salt. For a more urban stroll 🏙️, head to the medieval town of Aigues-Mortes, where you can surely taste local specialties, tellines 🐚 and Camargue stew in particular 😋. 

We're sure you'll run as gracefully as a Camargue white horse (and not the one of Henri IV)! 🏃‍➡️