Festival des Hospitaliers

Do you know Nant ? Well, not Nantes the capital of the Loire-Atlantique, but Nant located in the Occitanie in the department of l’Aveyron 🌊. Although locals are called the same (Nantais and Nantaises), the two towns are quite different! 😉

The Festival des Hospitaliers takes place every year in Nant in October since 2009. Three distinct courses are at your disposal, “ La Nantaise13.6 km (540 mD+), the “ Trail Larzac-Dourbie” with its 30 km (1 400 mD+) and the “ Trail des Hospitaliers ” of 75 km (3 490 mD+ 🥵). Parents will also be happy to learn that there are children's races, and more!Mini Trails, are organized! 👏 Remember to bring weatherproof clothing because it's not uncommon for showers to disrupt the race! 🌧 All three courses start from the town of Nant before venturing into the dense nature surrounding the town. A key feature of the event is that all three routes are completely different and do not share the same trails and summits. So if you want to see it all, come try one of the other distances next year! 😜 Whatever distance you choose, you’ll be left awestruck. Perched in the middle of the Larzac, the Causses and the Cévennes, the wildlife 🐞 and the flora 🌲 you’ll encounter will transport you to unique landscapes 🤩.

But by the way, why “the Hospitaliers”? They were religious figures who, in the Middle Ages, welcomed and cared for travelers and the sick 👨‍⚕️. Today the event revisits that idea of caring but this time it’s about the planet with this eco-friendly trail ♻️ where you won’t see any plastics at aid stations. The courses can be technically challenging in some places but you’ll often be rewarded with views over the surrounding valleys 👀. Moreover, if you sign up for the Trail des Hospitaliers, the start will be at night, very early in the morning. You’ll then be able to enjoy a sunrise that will make your view even more stunning the forests of Aveyron ☀️ . This is where you’ll realize that waking up at 4am for this trail is worth it!

And in the surrounding area, what to do after your race? To learn more about the Hospitaliers, you must visit the town of La Couvertoirade, a medieval gem considered one of the most beautiful villages in France 😍. On the gastronomy side, Aligot is the iconic dish of the region. Roquefort or the Roquefort or the tripous are also typical of Aveyron 😋 .

Like the Hospitaliers in the old days, the festival welcomes you with joy to discover its trail.