Trail de la Vézère

The Trail de la Vézère is a 38-kilometer race with 1,200 meters of elevation gain, starting from Uzerche in Corrèze. Uzerche, nicknamed the "Pearl of the Limousin," is a spectacular medieval town perched on a rocky promontory encircled by a loop of the Vézère river. This river, born on the Millevaches plateau and flowing toward the Dordogne, has carved deep gorges and sinuous valleys into the granitic and schistose bedrock of the Limousin, offering trail terrain of exceptional richness.

The course follows the meanders of the Vézère and its tributaries, taking trails that run along the ridges overlooking the gorges. Runners move through a landscape of oak and chestnut-wooded hills, interspersed with green meadows where copper-coated Limousin cattle graze. The trails follow the banks of the Vézère, whose clear waters wind between polished granite boulders, before climbing to viewpoints that reveal the beauty of the gorges: schist cliffs draped in ivy, waterfalls fed by Vauclusian springs, and medieval stone bridges with ogival arches.

The 1,200 meters of elevation gain are imposed by the tormented relief of the gorges. Each river meander demands a descent to the valley floor followed by a climb to the next ridge. The climbs are short but steep, often on friable and slippery schist trails. The terrain is varied: forest paths carpeted with chestnut leaves, technical single tracks through mossy undergrowth, passages over granite rocks bordering the river, and crossings of bocage meadows. In autumn, the carpet of chestnuts and dead leaves adds a technical dimension, while in spring the waterlogged paths transform into streams.

Uzerche is a town of art and history whose architectural heritage is exceptional for a community of its size. The Abbey Church of Saint-Pierre, a masterpiece of Limousin Romanesque art with its 11th-century crypt, dominates the town from its promontory. The turreted houses of the 14th and 15th centuries, fortified gates, and terraced gardens descending toward the river compose a medieval ensemble of remarkable coherence. The local saying "Whoever has a house in Uzerche has a castle in Limousin" summarizes the elegance of this town, which has nothing to envy of the perched villages of Provence or Tuscany.

For international runners, the Trail de la Vézère is an invitation to discover the Limousin, one of France's most secret and best-preserved regions. Corrèze, accessible by train from Paris via Brive-la-Gaillarde, captivates with the gentleness of its rolling landscapes, the generosity of its gastronomy — foie gras, Périgord walnuts, Limousin beef, black cherry clafoutis — and the authenticity of its welcome. Running along the Vézère is to travel back through time in a territory where medieval heritage, preserved nature, and the rural art of living come together in harmony.