Trail Running in the
South of France

If you are serious about trail running, Millau is a name you probably already know. The combination of the Causse plateaux, the deep gorges of the Tarn and Dourbie, the rocky single tracks and the high-altitude winds has made this corner of southern France one of the great trail running destinations in the world. Three major races call it home, and the everyday training terrain is as good as anywhere in France.

Festival des Templiers — one of the world's great trail races

The Festival des Templiers is held every year in late October on the Causse du Larzac. It draws over 13,000 participants and features around 15 race formats — from a 14 km accessible trail to the Grand Trail des Templiers, an 80 km race across the Causse Noir and the Causse du Larzac that is widely considered one of the most technically demanding and scenically spectacular trail events in Europe.

The race has a festival atmosphere — a large trail village with exhibitors, talks, and live tracking — but the terrain is not forgiving. The 80 km variant includes roughly 4,500 metres of elevation gain across limestone plateaux, through gorges and along exposed ridgelines. Night sections are common, and the October conditions add cold, wind, and sometimes fog.

Start and finish are in Millau. Entries typically open six to twelve months ahead and sell out. If you are targeting the Grand Trail, many runners treat the event as a two-to-three day stay, arriving the day before and recovering the day after.

100 km de Millau — France's oldest ultra

Created in 1972, the 100 km de Millau is the oldest 100 km road race in France. Run every year on the last Saturday of September, it starts and finishes in the centre of Millau and follows the Gorges du Tarn road to Le Rozier before looping south via Saint-Affrique and back — passing twice under the Viaduct.

Around 1,500 runners start the 100 km, with a 24-hour cut-off. A marathon runs simultaneously on the first loop. The event has a genuinely festive atmosphere — local communities come out in force, the night sections along the gorge are atmospheric, and the long flat stretches on the return give you too much time to question your life choices.

For non-runners and supporters, it is a great spectator event. The Millau town centre finish, usually in the early hours of the morning, always draws a crowd.

Course Eiffage du Viaduc

Held every two years in spring, the Course du Viaduc offers something unique: the chance to run across the Millau Viaduct on foot, on a road that is otherwise open only to motorised traffic. It is less about performance and more about the experience — thousands of runners crossing a 2.5 km bridge 270 metres above the Tarn valley, at dawn.

The format includes shorter distances accessible to recreational runners. It sells out quickly. Check the official website for the next edition date.

Training on the Causses — the everyday terrain

Away from the races, the landscape around Millau is exceptional training territory. The key terrain types:

• Causse du Larzac — vast flat-to-rolling limestone plateau, long runs at altitude (900–1,000 m), minimal traffic, views to the horizon. Good for tempo and long-distance work.
• Gorges du Tarn trails — technical single track along the gorge walls, significant climbing, rocky footing. The path from Le Rozier up to the Causse Noir is a classic.
• Causse Noir — between the Tarn and Jonte gorges, with rugged terrain, dolomite rock formations, and some of the most technical paths in the region. The area around Montpellier-le-Vieux is popular with trail runners.
• Dourbie valley — from Millau heading east, gentler river trails mixed with causse climbs. Good for easier recovery runs.

The Millau tourist office distributes free marked trail route cards covering the main options from town. GPX tracks for the Festival des Templiers routes are also widely available as informal training references.

Where to stay in Millau for the Festival des Templiers and other races

For the Festival des Templiers, the 100km de Millau, or the Course du Viaduc, Hôtel des Causses is the ideal base. We are a 3-star Logis hotel in the centre of Millau, a few minutes' walk from the start and finish areas. Our 18 air-conditioned rooms give you the recovery conditions you need, and breakfast is served from 7:30am — early enough to eat properly before a morning start.

Millau fills completely during Festival des Templiers weekend, often weeks in advance. Book Hôtel des Causses as soon as you register for the race — not the week before.