Next race
Saturday, 21 November 2026
8:30 am start
Distance
42.195 km / 26.2 mi
Wine-country road
Elevation
Rolling · 150 m gain
150 m climbing
Race profile
The Marathon du Beaujolais draws approximately 4,000 finishers each November on a wine-country road in Villefranche-sur-Saone, France. It is one of France's most theatrical marathons, famous for costumes, music, and Beaujolais hospitality. The route passes vineyards, Beaujolais villages, chateaux, and festive wine-country aid stations. Rolling terrain with moderate climbs shapes the middle miles.
Marathon du Beaujolais is a certified 42.195 km (26.2 mile) marathon — the standard World Athletics marathon distance.
Approximately 4,000 finishers
Course & terrain
Starts in Fleurie and finishes in Villefranche-sur-Saone. The route passes vineyards, Beaujolais villages, chateaux, and festive wine-country aid stations. Rolling terrain with moderate climbs. Rolling terrain with moderate climbs shapes the middle miles.
The Marathon du Beaujolais course is rolling over 42.195 km (26.2 miles). Runners cover 150 metres of climbing and 140 metres of descent, with a net climb of 10 metres from start to finish.
Rolling · 150 m gain — approx. 188 m above sea level
↑ 150 m · ↓ 140 m · net +10 m
Registration
The Marathon du Beaujolais uses open registration at marathondubeaujolais.org that routinely sells out for the November race through the Beaujolais villages course. Sign-up typically opens early in the year and the festive field of roughly 4,000 runners fills quickly. International runners apply through the same portal with no qualifying time required.
Getting there
Colombier-Saugnieu, Rhône (LYS)
Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport
41 km / 25 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 Villefranche-sur-Saone.
The Lyon Marathon draws approximately 2,000 finishers on an urban road in Lyon, France. The course starts and finishes at Place Bellecour. The route crosses the Rhône and Saône rivers, passing Vieux Lyon and the Confluence district. Mostly flat with short bridge climbs.
Next race: Sunday, 3 October 2027
The Marathon du Lac d'Annecy runs around one of Europe's cleanest alpine lakes, attracting about 3,500 runners each April. The course offers turquoise lake views, alpine peaks, and the medieval Annecy old town. April mountain-lake weather and a largely flat lakeside path make it one of France's most beautiful marathons.
Next race: Sunday, 11 April 2027
The Geneva Marathon is one of the world's largest marathons, drawing approximately 12k finishers on an urban road in Geneva, Switzerland. The course starts and finishes at Plaine de Plainpalais. The route follows the Lake Geneva shore through Versoix and back. Mostly flat along the waterfront with Alpine views.
Next race: Sunday, 9 May 2027
The Grenoble Marathon draws approximately 2,500 finishers each April through the Alpine capital at the confluence of the Isère and Drac rivers. The course passes the Bastille fortress cable-car, the Paul Mistral park, and the Olympic legacy venues from the 1968 Winter Games. April's alpine spring and flat valley-floor terrain make it one of France's most mountain-framed city marathons.
Next race: Sunday, 25 April 2027
The Lausanne Marathon attracts about 4,500 finishers each October along Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) with views of the French Alps across the water. The course passes the Olympic Museum, the Ouchy waterfront, and the Lavaux vineyard terraces. October autumn light on the lake makes it one of Switzerland's most scenic marathons.
Next race: Sunday, 25 October 2026
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.
