The Trail in Chartres en lumière is a 10 km night run through Chartres, held in spring on the opening night of the Chartres en lumières festival. Participants begin at the Colisée and follow a path illuminated by headlamps and the city’s historic, lit landmarks. C’Chartres Métropole Triathlon organizes the event, which attracts thousands of runners, and walkers are also welcome on the 10 km course.
The route travels through the city center, the lower town, and the area surrounding the Colisée, including over 120 meters of elevation gain. It connects several of the Chartres en lumières installations, offering spectators a visual display alongside the race. Waves are used for staggered starts to maintain participant flow, and the evening also features children’s races on shorter courses for various age categories. Prior to the event, organizers provide preview runs for registered participants and interested residents to explore the course.