La nuit de la madeleine - Saint-Nicolas-des-Biefs 2026

La Nuit de la Madeleine is a night event in the Monts de la Madeleine massif at Saint-Nicolas-des-Biefs, in the Allier department of central France. Held around the second weekend of October, it brings together trail runners, hikers, and Nordic walkers on marked routes through the Montagne Bourbonnaise. The Club Alpin de Roanne organizes it, and entries are capped at 1,000, with registration handled online rather than on the day. There are five route options from 6 to 28 km, suiting families trying night hiking and runners seeking a mountain outing. The paths are hilly and include technical sections, with some routes entering or linking Natura 2000 protected areas. The terrain includes plateaus, a river crossing, and the La Bletterie area. The 12 km route has a refreshment stop before finishing on the plateau, while the 13 km route drops toward La Bletterie and then climbs back up. The 20 km course has 770 m of climbing and three refreshment stops.