Photo: Carnet de Voyage d'Alex / UnsplashTrail race calendar in Occitania 2026
Also known as Causses and Cévennes
The limestone south of France: the Causses de Millau are a technical limestone plateau, canyons, and continental Mediterranean climate, home to the Festival des Templiers, one of Europe's most crowded trail events.
Calendar updated September 2026
View on map2026 calendar: every race by date
| Date | Race | Town | Distances |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Oct 2026 | Festival des Templiers | Millau | 100K · 80.7K · 62.6K · 48.5K · 35K · 33K · 32K |
“The Causses de Millau: limestone and technical trail since 1995”
1995
First Festival des Templiers
+13.000
Runners at the Festival des Templiers
Oct
Month of the Festival des Templiers
1.247 m
Maximum altitude of the Causses
1
Races
32 – 100 km
Distance range
1,157 – 4,309 D+
Elevation range
Oct
Race months
Difficulty
Terrain
The Causses are arid limestone plateaus, dotted with sinkholes and canyons carved by rivers such as the Tarn and the Dourbie. The terrain around Millau is markedly technical: loose rock, stony trails, and short but constant elevation changes, very different from alpine high mountains. Heat can be intense in summer, with an exposed plateau and little shade along much of the route.
Key areas
Climate & best season
Spring and autumn are the best windows: mild temperatures and less risk of extreme heat on the exposed plateau. Summer can exceed 35°C with barely any shade, which is why the Festival des Templiers is held in October, taking advantage of cooler temperatures and autumn light.
Trail culture
Millau and its surrounding area are, alongside Chamonix, the other great founding name in French trail. The Festival des Templiers, held continuously since 1995, gathers over 13,000 runners every October for a weekend that combines top-level competition, a popular festival atmosphere, and technical gear fairs. Its limestone terrain, very different from alpine terrain, calls for specific equipment: shoes with aggressive grip for loose rock, poles, and sun protection on a plateau with barely any shade.
Iconic races in the region
Race map
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Race calendar
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Races
Gear up for the mountains
The right gear makes the difference on race day. Our comparison guides to choose well.
Related guides
Gear buying guides
Essential gear for trails in this area
The gear most used by runners in this region
Black Diamond
Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z
Ultralight carbon Z-pole foldable trekking poles. 137 g per pole in 110 cm length, 33 cm folded. EVA grip and adjustable strap. The trail running reference.
Hoka
Hoka Speedgoat 7
The best-selling trail shoe in the US and an absolute ultra-trail classic. Max Hoka cushioning, a Vibram Megagrip outsole with 5 mm lugs for grip in mud and technical terrain, and a snug Matryx upper. Built to eat up kilometres without punishing your legs in long races.
Icebreaker
Icebreaker Merino 200 Oasis LS Crewe
Long-sleeve thermal top in 100% merino wool (200g). Natural temperature regulation, genuine multi-day odor resistance and a soft, non-itch handfeel from the fine merino yarn.
Altra
Altra Lone Peak 9
Trail running shoe with zero drop and wide FootShape toe box that allows natural toe splay. 25 mm stack with EGO foam for balanced cushioning without losing ground contact. MaxTrac outsole with 3.5 mm lugs, ideal for non-technical trails, forest tracks and long-distance paths.
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