Nantes Urban Trail 2026

No, trail running isn’t limited to wild mountains ! ⛰ It’s also done right in the heart of the city, even in flatlands 🌇. Yeah, we know we won’t make only friends in Nantes by claiming the region is a vast, very flat expanse 😑, but you have to admit that elevation gain isn’t exactly the area’s trump card. That said, the Nantes Urban Trail has managed to find some perfectly crafted climbs that your thighs will be talking about ! 😂 Indeed, the Chantenay-Sainte-Anne district is nicknamed “the little Montmartre of Nantes” because of its many stairways and the church that sits atop the hill (Sainte-Anne Church, of course ! ⛪). From the top of the butte, you could absolutely shout for all to hear : “Anne, my Sainte Anne, don’t you see anything coming?” And then, let’s bet the Nantes Urban Trail volunteers would answer you : “I see nothing but the pack stretching out and the runners sweating!” 😅.

With 122 steps to climb 😱 to reach the summit of Butte Sainte-Anne (i.e., 244 over 15 km for those who do the loop twice), Nantes Urban Trail competitors have plenty of opportunity to lose a few liters of sweat. Not so flat after all, is it ? This neighborhood is known for its very picturesque sloping lanes, its bucolic vibe, and its feel of a small, slightly bohemian suburb 💃. Sainte-Anne Church is the highest point in Nantes, where the panorama over the city and the Loire is simply… breathtaking 😍, even for seasoned trail runners ! This historic district blends modernity and heritage, as it once hosted factories and shipyards 🛟 (which settled there at the start of the 20th century, if you want to know everything 🤓), as well as a power station (until 1964, since you’re keen to learn !). The area thus exudes a unique charm: industrial architecture rubs shoulders with lovely brick houses and superb parks, such as the Parc des Oblates, the Parc de la Boucardière and the Jardin extraordinaire, which features a 25-meter waterfall and a cliffside staircase 💦🌺. Chantenay-Sainte-Anne is undergoing a real revival, with families moving in, local producers’ markets, cafés, restaurants… ☕ No wonder the Nantes Urban Trail organizers chose this neighborhood to map out the routes ! 

Besides, you can imagine that these routes are mostly on asphalt, even if they also use the neighborhood’s green park paths 🌳. For an urban trail worthy of the name, the TUN offers punchy, fast itineraries where you’ll need a good dose of speed, concrete-hard thighs to charge up the stairs, and strong rebound ability to push on the runnable sections 🏃.

"Anne, my sister Anne, don’t you see anything coming ? I see only a runner who thought they’d find flat ground and is totally wiped out ! " 🫠

That’ll teach you to believe there’s no elevation gain in Nantes ! 😛