Trail du Marensin

The Trail du Marensin is a 21-kilometer race with 300 meters of elevation gain held in Vielle-Saint-Girons, in the Landes department, at the heart of the largest man-made forest in Western Europe. This event offers a total immersion in the Landes landscapes, between endless pine forests, ocean dunes, and freshwater lakes bordered by reeds. The Marensin is the name of this Landes country situated between the Courant d'Huchet to the north and the Courant de Contis to the south, a preserved territory where nature reigns supreme and the pace of life follows the rhythm of tides and seasons.

The Trail du Marensin course follows trails that crisscross the maritime pine forest, that vast green expanse planted in the 19th century under Napoleon III to drain the Landes marshes and fix the shifting dunes that threatened nearby villages. Runners move beneath the pine canopy whose resin perfumes the air, on a soft and comfortable carpet of pine needles, before reaching the dune ridge separating the forest from the Atlantic Ocean. Passages over the dunes, sometimes rising several dozen meters high, offer spectacular views of the wild beaches of the Côte d'Argent (Silver Coast), one of the most preserved coastlines in France.

With 300 meters of elevation gain over 21 kilometers, the profile is accessible but conceals traps that mountain runners may not be familiar with. The soft sand of the dunes and forest paths turns every kilometer into an effort greater than the distance suggests. Dune climbs, short but intense in deep sand, engage unfamiliar muscles and demand an adapted running technique. Pine roots protruding on forest trails and passages through wetland areas between the lakes add a technical dimension to this seemingly easy trail.

Vielle-Saint-Girons is a discreet seaside resort that has preserved its Landes authenticity far from mass tourism. The Courant d'Huchet, classified as a national nature reserve, is nicknamed the "little Amazon of the Landes" for its lush vegetation of bald cypresses, water lilies, and royal ferns bordering its dark waters as they wind toward the ocean. The lakes of Léon and Moliets, remnants of ancient sea channels, shelter remarkable wildlife — grey herons, white storks, European otters — and are connected to the ocean by these coastal currents that constitute one of the most fascinating geographical features of the Landes.

The Trail du Marensin appeals through its unique atmosphere, between cathedral-like forest and wild ocean. Its 21 kilometers make it a race accessible to all levels, ideal for a first trail experience or for experienced runners seeking a moment of pleasure in an exceptional natural setting. The Landes hospitality, warm and generous, manifests in aid stations where pastis landais — that brioche cake flavored with orange blossom and Armagnac —, apple tourtières, and Tursan wine accompany runners in their effort. This race is an ode to the gentle Landes way of life, that territory where time seems suspended between the whisper of pines and the thunder of the ocean.

Trail du Marensin is a 21 km trail race with 300 m of elevation gain, located in Vielle-Saint-Girons, Landes. The next edition is scheduled for 21 March 2026.

Find all official information on the race website.