Trail des Reculées

"Want a 39-km trail in the 39 region?" 📞

When you pitch that to your buddy, he’ll probably reply: "Pfff, what am I even doing deep in the Jura?"🙄. And since you’ll have read our awesome page, you’ll know what to say to him 🤪. In April, you’ll meet in the capital of the Jura, Lons-le-Saunier, for a wild race 🥳. We hope you’re well prepared because four trail distances await: 11, 24, 39 or 55 km 🥵.

First, let’s start with a bit of history 🤓.

Lons-le-Saunierr is the city of the ancient Sauniers, who harvested salt (which you’ll actually need a lot to avoid dehydration during your race 🧂).

The salty springs of Lons were exploited back in Roman times 🏛️, hence the city’s name—crazy, right? 😳

As for the name of the race, the Reculées are narrow, deep valleys bordered by cliffs 🪨. A geological feature unique to the Jura, these reculées often end in cul-de-sacs and feature a resurgence, and thus a flowing stream 💧.

Then you’re in for a breathtaking course 🤩.

Okay, enough playing the Stéphane Bern, back to our sheep 🐑.

No matter which distance you choose, you start in the city centre, then quickly shift onto Jura’s playground 🌲: forest trails, cliffs, vineyards, waterfalls and viewpoints… Only hidden spots that live up to their name 🫣. You’ll notably discover the Abbaye de Baume-Les-Messieurs, the Hermitage de Conliège, or the Belvédère de la Guillotine known for its climbing wall 🧗. Speaking of which, get ready to climb (special mention to the 55 km with a positive elevation gain of 2 000 m 📈) and to conquer a few sections that sting the thighs🦵. But honestly, the scenery more than makes the effort worth it 🏞️.

What makes the race truly unique is the mix of heritage and surprise: largely renewed routes, and above all the "Enigmatic-39" whose course remains secret until race day 🤫.

The concept is simple: you take your bib for 39 kilometers without knowing where the organization will lead you, and you go with the flow❓. In short, if you’re after a trail that lets you leave the pavement without flinching at a bit of elevation ⛰️, the Trail des Reculées ticks all the boxes.

On the experience side, the organizers emphasize runner enjoyment 😋: sweet-and-salty Jura-inspired snacks (yes, Comté is in the mix 🧀), warm atmosphere and festive points along the course. There’s also an engaged dimension ♻️, with activities like troc trail and a strong community focus 🙌.

After you finish your race, stay in the beautiful Jura department 😍. First, you can stroll through the town centre and visit the Rouget de Lisle Museum 🤓, the author of La Marseillaise who was born in Lons-le-Saunier 🇫🇷. If you want a slightly more fun and family-friendly museum, head to the Maison de la Vache Qui Rit 🐮.

And then, let’s be honest, after running a trail you’ll also want to do … nothing 🧘.

For that, what could be better than the Ledonia Spa & Wellness 🫧 where you can truly relax 🧖. Then you can settle into a local restaurant and savor the Jura gastronomy 😋. Poulet de Bresse au vin jaune, grenouilles, Fondue au Comté, Soufflé au Comté, Potée Franc-Comtoise...We eat (very) well in Franche-Comté🍴.

Ready? We don’t want to see you back down… Maybe just a step to gain a run-up 💨.