Marathon Du Pays Des Chateaux - Cheverny 2027

Cheverny now attracts so many runners that entries can sell out months ahead, and organizers are choosing a cap over chasing bigger numbers. The Marathon du Pays des Chateaux - Cheverny is an early-April race weekend in Loir-et-Cher, in France's Loire Valley, featuring a road marathon, half marathon, trail races, and a four-person marathon relay. Courir a Saint-Gervais organizes the event, and the field has grown from about 4,800 to around 7,000 participants in only a few editions. The organizers state this is about the limit: roughly 15,000 people passed through bib pickup and awards, and they prefer to protect the experience rather than push toward 10,000 runners. Prices range from approximately 48 to 68 euros, which contributes to the race's appeal for runners seeking something simpler and more affordable. The marathon is closely linked to the chateau country around Cheverny. The route is being adjusted to include more forest running, remove a short loop within Cheverny, and use a first loop in the castle park followed by another section alongside the castle. It also passes Troussay, one of the smallest castles in the Loire region. The organizers intend to allocate more space to the trails, marathon, and relay, while reducing the half marathon following a sharp increase in demand. A 42 km Maratrail is also planned, starting from Chaumont castle and connecting locations such as Madon, Cheverny, Beauregard, and Chambord. The field includes quick marathoners around the 2:40 mark to slower runners who may soon have pace groups near 4:45 and 5:00.