The Hills of Garches 2026

“His name is Juste Leblanc.” In Garches, the hometown of Daniel Prévost, the unforgettable Lucien Cheval from Le Dîner de cons, the climb is called Juste Grise!

Today we’re taking you to Garches. Perched on the hillsides of western Paris, 12 km from Notre-Dame de Paris, this town in the Hauts-de-Seine nurtures a village vibe between state-owned forest, golf course, and streets that climb in every direction 🏡. The Hills of Garches sets up shop there in late November, when Île-de-France has swapped terraces for scarves 🧣. At that time of year, the sky is happy to borrow the color of asphalt, with an optional light shower ☁️. No need to fear the mud, though: even under the trees, the course stays on hard ground!

Half-urban, half-forest, this urban trail strings together five climbs that the organizers proudly nickname their monuments 🧗. Right from the start on rue de Suresnes, Chemin des Vignes rises up in front of you: 500 m of brutal climbing up to 15% max, visible from bottom to top 👀. The route heads toward Vaucresson before dropping into the Bois de Saint-Cucufa, where it loops around the pond 🦆. Everyone takes on the Côte Grise, preceded by Chemin de Versailles for runners on the long format 🍂. After the edge of the Saint-Cloud golf course and the crossing of Place Saint-Louis to the cheers, the most ambitious still treat themselves to the Saint-Louis climb and then rue des Quatre-Vents, the final shift before the finish at Léo-Lagrange stadium 🌬️. On the meter: 275 mD+ over 16.2 km for the “5 Hills”, 120 mD+ over 8.3 km for the “2 Hills”, all on asphalt or compacted paths, with an almost zero risk of mud.

Behind this terrain lies a race steeped in history 🕰️. For 31 editions, the 8 & 16 km of Garches brought together up to 1,600 runners on the second-to-last Sunday of November, before giving way to the Boucles de Garches, which disappeared after 2019 in the wake of the health crisis. The Hills of Garches now brings this mythical event back to life, carried by the City, the volunteers of L’Orteil en pointes (the Garches club behind the original race), and part of the team from La Domaniale in Saint-Cloud 🔄. This trio of enthusiasts knows every bump in the area by heart 🫶. Two formats complete the picture: the “2 Hills” offers a gentle introduction to the joys of the short trail, while the “5 Hills” satisfies lovers of leg-breakers looking for a real test before winter 🎯.

Once you’ve crossed the line, save a little energy for the nearby Saint-Cloud National Estate, where Paris spreads out at your feet from the Balustrade roundabout 🗼. The Pavillon de Breteuil even houses the 1889 standard meter: a chance to check that your 16.2 km really did add up to 16,200 m! 📏 On the history side, the Château de Malmaison opens the salons of Joséphine de Beauharnais 🏰. For recovery, put on “Petite Fleur” by Sidney Bechet, a Garches resident by adoption whose name the cultural center bears, just a stone’s throw from the finish 🎷.

Five climbs, 275 mD+, and just one vintage to remember: yours, etched into the clock beneath the finish line at Léo-Lagrange! 🏆