Rennes Urban Trail

The Rennes Urban Trail takes place in April, offering 7 km, 14 km, and 24 km distances. It is one of France’s early urban trails and the country’s largest by participant numbers, making the day feel more like a city-wide running event than a small specialist trail race. The start is on the Mail François Mitterrand, where runners gather for a collective warm-up before heading into the city. The route links 35 notable spots around Rennes, including the Hôtel de Ville, Parc du Thabor, the Jacques-Cartier prison, and even the metro. Some private or rarely opened places in the city are made available to runners, giving the race a backstage feel. The climbing is counted in steps rather than meters, a detail that highlights urban trail running: staircases, passages, buildings, and sharp changes of level matter as much as hills. Along the way there are refreshment points, DJs, music groups, dancers, a bagad, and a free photo booth for participants.