Trail du pays de la Châtaigneraie 2026

The Trail du Pays de la Châtaigneraie is an October trail running event held in La Châtaigneraie, Vendée, western France. It crosses the Vendée bocage, passing through La Châtaigneraie, Terval, Cheffois, and Mouilleron Saint Germain. Distances cater to various abilities, from short runs to a full trail marathon. The primary distances are 9 km, 16 km, 25 km, and 42 km, with elevation gains ranging from approximately 200 metres on the 9 km race to about 1,000 metres on the marathon. A two-person relay covers the marathon distance, divided into 22 km and 20 km legs. The longer courses incorporate local landmarks, including the Carrières de Cheffois, the Rochers de Mouilleron Saint Germain, and Les Pépinières Ripaud, instead of following simple village roads. The event accommodates a wide range of participants, offering shorter routes for beginners or quick runners, longer options for experienced trail runners, and children's races of 1000 and 2000 metres. NIKROME manages the timing, and an app provides live GPS tracking for supporters and a fan zone. Additionally, one euro from each race entry is donated to l'HéMA, an association supporting hematology research at Nantes University Hospital.