Next race
Sunday, 18 October 2026
9:30 am start
Distance
42.195 km / 26.2 mi
Coastal village road
Elevation
Hilly · 300 m gain
300 m climbing
Race profile
The Marathon des Villages draws approximately 2,720 finishers each October on a coastal village road in Cap-Ferret, France. The village-to-village coastal feel is unlike larger French city marathons. The route passes oyster villages, pine forests, and roads around the Bassin d'Arcachon. Rolling terrain with moderate climbs totals roughly 300 metres of gain and loss.
Marathon des Villages is a certified 42.195 km (26.2 mile) marathon — the standard World Athletics marathon distance.
Approximately 2,720 finishers
Course & terrain
Starts and finishes in the Arcachon Bay area. The route passes oyster villages, pine forests, and low-lying roads around the Bassin d'Arcachon. Very flat throughout. Very flat throughout.
The Marathon des Villages course is hilly over 42.195 km (26.2 miles). Runners cover 300 metres of climbing and 300 metres of descent, with minimal net elevation change from start to finish.
Hilly · 300 m gain — approx. 5 m above sea level
↑ 300 m · ↓ 300 m · net 0 m
Registration
The Marathon des Villages uses open online registration at marathon-des-villages.com with no ballot or qualifying time for the general field. Sign-up for the October race typically opens the previous year and places are allocated first-come, first-served. Charity bibs are available through partner organisations when general entry closes.
Getting there
Bordeaux (BOD)
Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport
46 km / 29 mi
Common questions
Official resources
Last updated 11 October 2026. Edition dates and course details are reviewed regularly.
Close to this race
Other races closest to Cap-Ferret.
The Marathon du Medoc draws approximately 6,000 finishers each September on a wine-country road in Pauillac, France. The race is famous worldwide for combining marathon distance with costume culture and wine-country spectacle. The course passes vineyards, chateaux, and wine villages throughout the Medoc region. Gentle undulations are the only breaks on an otherwise flat profile.
Next race: Sunday, 5 September 2027
The Marathon des Landes is an October urban and rural road marathon in Mont-de-Marsan, France (also Mazerolles and Saint-Pierre-du-Mont), organised by Stade Montois. The two-loop course is very flat. The 2025 festival drew about 2,520 participants across marathon, half, 10K and walk — marathon-only finisher totals were not published separately on the organiser site.
Next race: Sunday, 11 October 2026
The Marathon Royan Cote de Beaute draws approximately 1,500 finishers each May on a scenic coastal road in Royan, France. It blends resort-town scenery with a largely runnable profile. The route passes estuary views, beaches, and low coastal roads on the Charente coast. Gentle undulations are the only breaks on an otherwise flat profile.
Next race: Sunday, 2 May 2027
The Marathon Biarritz Pays Basque draws approximately 1,800 finishers each May on a scenic coastal road in Biarritz, France. It is one of France's most scenic seaside marathons thanks to the rugged Atlantic backdrop. The route passes ocean cliffs, beach boulevards, and roads linking several Basque-coast towns. Rolling terrain with moderate climbs shapes the middle miles.
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The Marathon de La Rochelle follows the Atlantic coast of Charente-Maritime, drawing about 3,500 runners each November through the historic harbour city. The course passes the Vieux Port, the Les Minimes marina, and the flat coastal roads of the Rochefort peninsula approach. November mild Atlantic weather and sea views make it a popular western France marathon.
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The Bilbao Bizkaia Marathon draws approximately 700 finishers each March through the Basque Country's industrial-turned-cultural capital. The course starts at the La Salve bridge and finishes beside the Guggenheim Museum on a fast, sea-level loop through Bilbao and out toward Getxo. March weather on the Cantabrian coast and the titanium Guggenheim backdrop make it northern Spain's premier spring marathon.
Next race: Sunday, 7 March 2027
Planning guides
Practical guides to help you plan, train for, and run this race.
What flat, rolling, and hilly really mean — and how to read elevation gain, net change, and altitude on a marathon course.
How temperature, humidity, wind, and rain affect marathon performance — and how to use typical race-day weather when choosing a start line.
Match a race to your goals — personal bests, sightseeing, atmosphere, or a major milestone — using course data and realistic expectations.
