Trail du Beaujolais Vert

The Trail du Beaujolais Vert is a 48-kilometer race with 1,800 meters of elevation gain held in Monsols (now part of the commune of Deux-Grosnes), in the Saône-et-Loire department, in the northernmost and most mountainous part of the Beaujolais region. Contrary to the image most people have of Beaujolais — sunny wine-growing hillsides — the "Beaujolais Vert" (Green Beaujolais) refers to the wooded, verdant heights of the western part of the massif, where vineyards give way to fir forests, highland pastures, and deep valleys. It is in this little-known territory that trail running truly comes into its own, offering runners an unexpected discovery of demanding terrain.

The Trail du Beaujolais Vert course takes runners through the wildest landscapes of the Beaujolais massif, culminating at Mont Saint-Rigaud at 1,012 meters altitude, the highest point of the Rhône department. The trails wind through dense forests of Douglas fir and beech trees, mountain meadows where Charolais cattle graze, and stone hamlets nestled in the hills. Views from the ridgelines open eastward over the Saône valley, south toward the Monts du Lyonnais, and on clear days, to the Alpine chain on the horizon.

With 1,800 meters of elevation gain over 48 kilometers, the profile is decidedly mountainous for a region many people imagine to be flat. The climbs are long and sustained, passing through forests where paths can be rutted and muddy. Technical descents on forest trails scattered with roots and rocks demand constant attention. The elevation-to-distance ratio is high, making this race a serious physical challenge despite its modest altitudes. Weather conditions can vary considerably, with frequent fog on the heights and temperatures noticeably cooler than in the plains below.

Monsols and the Beaujolais Vert bear the traces of a rich rural history and remarkable architectural heritage. Stone villages with canal tile roofs, wash houses, water mills, and small Romanesque churches punctuate the course. The textile tradition, involving hemp and silk weaving, was long the primary activity of these mountains before agriculture and forestry took over. The Col des Echarmeaux, a historic pass between the Saône and Loire valleys, recalls the strategic importance of these heights since antiquity.

The Trail du Beaujolais Vert is an invitation to discover an unsuspected face of Beaujolais, far from wine-country clichés. Its 48 kilometers and 1,800 meters of elevation gain make it a demanding event that will appeal to trail runners seeking wild nature and technical courses. The convivial atmosphere, the generosity of the aid stations — where local specialties like bugnes pastries, goat cheese, and Beaujolais Villages wine sit alongside energy gels — and the raw beauty of these green mountains make this race an unmissable fixture for anyone wanting to venture off the beaten path, both literally and figuratively.