Forez Trails

Do you remember your first time on a bike, your first running race, or your first trail? Then you’ll surely recall your first edition of the Forez Trails.

You’ll be able to strike a pioneer trail look in front of your friends and show off because you were there… 😎 Between mountains and Forez (forests) 🌲, Augerolles hides a small town waiting for you to host a big event 👌. You’ll need to prepare seriously for March and head to Puy-de-Dôme, guaranteed Auvergne vibes! In the area, it’s stunning: you’ll dive into the Livradois-Forez Regional Natural Park and into the Natura 2000 zone Natura 2000. Grab your best sunglasses (yes, they’re still around ☀️), you’re going to be blown away! 🕶️

Whether you’re the “I just want to discover trail" type" or the “I’m here to hurt for hours to test my endurance" type", there’s surely a route made for you 🫵. Four distances chronographed ⏱️ are on the program, all playable in solo or in pairs (except the shortest, reserved for solos). The idea? To show you the most beautiful corners of the Forez while running 🏃, sweating 🥵, climbing 🧗, and probably asking yourself 472 times why you’re doing this… Before realizing at the summit that that’s exactly why you came! ⛰️ Anyway, enough suspense, here are the four courses. La Faye", it’s the discovery option of 12 km and 396 mD+, ideal for weekend runners (literally) who want to taste trail joys without ruining their legs 🦵. L’Olmetoise" offers a route of almost 25 km, with 954 mD+, it’s serious but generally manageable! 🙃 "L’Augerolloise" is the intermediary format in all its glory: 33 km and 1 100 mD+ solid climbs but technically you’ll reach before night! 🌙 And finally, the boss, the monster, the one that makes your family look at you oddly when you announce your registration: "Le FOC" ! More than 50 km and 1 910 mD+ for the bravest (we’re right behind you, go for it) 🚀

A 12 km hike is also offered for those who prefer to enjoy the scenery 🏞️, no timing and no early wake-up ⏰. Start is flexible in the morning, if that isn’t a total win, it’s close! 🥾 The courses will take you through forest trails and along watercourses like the Faye River (on footbridges and bridges 🌁, promise you won’t get your feet wet 💦). With its viewpoints, its meadows 🐮 and hidden villages behind the hills, you’ll understand why this region attracts nature lovers! The famous Château de la Faye 🏰 will be a key passage 🔑 for several races. A place steeped in history that will give you a good reason to catch your breath for two seconds (well, if your clock allows you 😜). The routes are fully signposted, so normally if you get lost, it means you’ll need to quickly visit an ophthalmologist! 👀 And with the organizers, marshals and tail runners watching over things, you’ll never be truly alone on the trails! 🧭 In addition, the event brings together the village’s various associations that will be involved on site 🙌. Since the race falls on International Women’s Day, this charitable event donates 1€ per bib to the Fondation des Femmes 💜.

Once you cross the finish line 🏁 (and have regained a minimum amount of oxygen in your lungs 🫁), you can fully enjoy Auvergne and its generous gastronomy. After your quadriceps, it’s your stomach’s turn to run at full throttle! 😋 Among the local specialties, there’s the fourme d’Ambert 🧀 produced between 600 m and 1 600 m altitude, or wild blueberries (best as a tart) 🫐. Of course, you’ll find even more traditional products in local shops and restaurants 🍽️, we’ll leave it to you to discover them at your own pace! If after all that you still have time and desire to move, we have a few final recommendations for you. Take a trip 10-15 minutes from Augerolles, to the Château d’Aulteribe 🏰, or to Ambert, at the Moulin à papier Richard de Bas. If you want to discover the region’s heritage, go check out the Thiers Cutlery, established since 1946 🔪. Roger-Quilliot Art Museum in Clermont-Ferrand with collections from the Middle Ages to the 20th century 🎨.

In the volcanic region, the only explosion we want to see is the joy when you pass the final arch! 👏