Marathon des Châteaux du Médoc 2027 – Pauillac, France

What to expect in 2027

The Marathon des Châteaux du Médoc is one of France’s distinctive marathon events, combining a full 42.195 km road race with the vineyards, wine estates and villages of the Médoc region around Pauillac. The event is known for its festive atmosphere, elaborate runner costumes, food and tasting stops, and the large number of château properties encountered along the course.

The 2027 edition will be the 41st edition of the Marathon des Châteaux du Médoc. The official theme is “Exploration Médoc, à la conquête du Monde !”, translated by the organizer as “Medoc exploration, conquering the world.” The costume theme is an important part of the event, with runners encouraged to participate in fancy dress.

The marathon is limited to 8,500 participants. It is a genuine 42.195 km running competition rather than a walking event, and the organizer specifically distinguishes the marathon from the separate recovery walk offered around the vineyards.

The course passes through the Médoc wine-producing landscape and includes numerous refreshment and tasting locations. The official programme lists 22 refreshment points, around 20 “oeno-sportive” tasting tests, and 55 different entertainment and tasting points. These include food and regional products alongside the race’s wine-focused atmosphere.

The event also extends beyond the marathon itself. Participants and accompanying visitors can attend the Marathon Village, pasta-themed dinners, entertainment around Pauillac, the awards ceremony, evening entertainment and the post-race vineyard walk.

Match/event dates

The Marathon des Châteaux du Médoc 2027 takes place on September 4, 2027, with the marathon starting and finishing on the quays of Pauillac. The official website confirms this date and identifies the edition as the 41st Marathon des Châteaux du Médoc.

The broader event programme runs across three days:

• September 3, 2027: Marathon Village, bib collection and evening pasta events
• September 4, 2027: Main Marathon des Châteaux du Médoc, awards and evening celebrations
• September 5, 2027: Recovery walk through the Médoc vineyards and associated lunch

The official marathon itself starts at 9:30 a.m. from the quays of Pauillac and has a maximum official race duration of 6 hours and 30 minutes.

Visiting this event? Don’t miss out on these amazing activities and local experiences while you’re here.

Stadium & sports venue

The Marathon des Châteaux du Médoc is a road marathon rather than a stadium competition. The principal event location is Pauillac, in the Médoc wine region of Gironde, where the race begins and finishes on the riverfront quays.

The race route travels through the surrounding wine-growing landscape, passing vineyards, villages, château properties and other locations associated with the Médoc wine region. The course is officially 42.195 km and is described by the organizer as undulating, with approximately 24% of the route consisting of gravel or unpaved sections.

The Marathon Village and bib collection are based at the COSEC in Pauillac. This area also functions as an important event hub for runners and visitors, with the organizer providing information, activities and access to the event services.

The wider festival atmosphere extends into Pauillac and surrounding Médoc communities. The official programme includes activities on the quays, village entertainment, food and drink facilities and other public celebrations.

Full fixture or event schedule

The event programme includes activities before, during and after the marathon.

Marathon Village and bib collection

The Marathon Village opens at the COSEC in Pauillac, where registered runners collect their race numbers. Official buses are available between Bordeaux and Pauillac by reservation, helping participants reach the event area.

Mille-Pâtes evening

The Mille-Pâtes evening takes place at Château Fourcas Dupré in Listrac-Médoc. Entry is limited to registered diners, with dinner served during the evening.

Pâtes-à-Caisses evening

A separate Pâtes-à-Caisses meal takes place at the festival hall in Saint-Estèphe. This provides another organized food and social event for participants and visitors.

Race morning

The programme begins with the presentation of the costumed runners, followed by the advertising caravan, pre-race entertainment and the marathon start.

Race course

The marathon includes 22 refreshment points, around 20 wine-related tasting tests and approximately 55 entertainment and tasting locations. The organizer specifically lists oysters, entrecôte, cheese, grapes and ice cream among the food offerings.

Awards and evening celebrations

The awards ceremony takes place on the Pauillac quays, followed by food and drink options, entertainment, a free music show, fireworks and dancing.

Recovery walk

A separate recovery walk takes participants and accompanying visitors through the Médoc vineyards. A lunch option is available after the walk at Château Fourcas Dupré.

Teams, athletes & participants

The Marathon des Châteaux du Médoc is an individual marathon rather than a team-based tournament. Participants register for the 42.195 km race and receive an individual race number with electronic timing.

The official participant limit is 8,500 runners. The race is open to runners who meet the organizer’s minimum age requirement and complete the required French Athletics Federation health-prevention process.

The event attracts runners who are interested in both marathon running and the distinctive festive character of the Médoc. Fancy dress is an integral part of the event, and the organizer publishes a specific annual costume theme.

Participants can also enter through group registration. The official 2027 registration information allows individual registrations as well as group registrations for between two and 30 runners.

The event includes competitive categories and official rankings. Results are recorded using a timing chip integrated into the race number, and the organizer publishes results following the race.

The marathon also has the Châteaux Challenge and Companies Challenge, giving clubs and companies additional ways to participate alongside the individual race.

Tournament format & competition structure

The Marathon des Châteaux du Médoc is a single 42.195 km timed road race. There are no heats, knockout rounds or separate qualifying races.

Every registered runner completes the official course from the start on the Pauillac quays to the finish at the same location.

The course is closed to normal traffic during the official race period. Participants must follow the marked route and pass the official control points. Runners who fail to appear at the required checkpoints cannot be officially classified or receive the associated race rewards.

The official time limit is 6 hours and 30 minutes. The organizer uses a team known as the “broom runners” to maintain the maximum race pace. Runners who fall behind this group can be removed from the official competition.

The event is unusual because its competitive structure is combined with a major recreational and cultural component. The organizer deliberately integrates food, wine-related activities, entertainment and costumes into the marathon experience while retaining the rules of a timed sporting competition.

Match/event times

The marathon starts at 9:30 a.m. from the Pauillac quays.

The official programme provides several activities before the start, including the costumed-runner presentation, the advertising caravan and pre-race entertainment.

The maximum official race duration is 6 hours and 30 minutes. Runners must remain ahead of the official broom runners to stay within the race schedule.

The awards ceremony is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. on the Pauillac quays, subject to weather conditions.

The evening programme continues with food and entertainment, including music, fireworks and dancing.

Ticket types

The main entry is the standard marathon bib. The organizer has already published the 2027 prices.

Using an approximate conversion of €1 = $1.17, the official 2027 prices are:

• Marathon bib: $128.70 USD
• Festive Pack: $165.00 USD
• Pleasure Pack: $196.56 USD
• Initiation Pack: $195.39 USD
• Prestige Pack: $269.10 USD

The Festive Pack includes the marathon bib and the Pâtes-à-Caisses evening. The Pleasure Pack includes the marathon bib, recovery walk and recovery-walk lunch.

The Initiation Pack combines the marathon bib with the Mille-Pâtes evening. The Prestige Pack includes the marathon bib, Mille-Pâtes evening, recovery walk and recovery-walk lunch.

The organizer states that these packages include discounts compared with purchasing the individual components separately.

The required French Athletics Federation Pass Prévention Santé is a separate requirement, with the organizer listing its applicable fee at €5, equivalent to approximately $5.85 USD.

Ticket release phases

The official 2027 registration page states that registrations will open in March 2027 through the Marathon des Châteaux du Médoc website.

The organizer uses a first-come, first-served registration principle. Because the marathon is limited to 8,500 participants, places can become unavailable once the participant capacity has been reached.

Group registration is also available. Groups can register between two and 30 runners, with participant details needing to be entered within the period specified by the organizer after the bibs have been reserved and paid for.

The official registration page currently provides the 2027 price structure and confirms that registration will open in March. Runners should use the official website rather than unofficial resale channels.

VIP & hospitality options

The Marathon des Châteaux du Médoc has a strong hospitality component built around the marathon’s food, wine and social programme.

The official programme lists a VIP-Press reception as part of the event’s evening programme. The event also offers organized meals and packages that combine the race with social activities.

The Prestige Pack is the broadest published participant package. It combines the marathon bib with the Mille-Pâtes dinner, the vineyard recovery walk and the associated lunch.

The event’s all-inclusive registration option is offered through the official partner agency Tuttiquanti. It combines the marathon bib with accommodation, transfers and customizable options.

These hospitality offerings are different from conventional stadium VIP seating. They are designed around the wider Médoc marathon experience, including accommodation, meals, transfers and organized activities.

Stadium & event rules

The marathon has specific sporting and safety regulations that every participant must follow.

The race is exclusively for runners. Anyone wishing to walk through the vineyards can instead take part in the separate recovery walk.

The race number must remain completely readable throughout the marathon. Participants must complete the full official course and pass the designated control points.

Bicycles, dogs and Nordic walking poles are prohibited during the marathon because of the narrow roads, gravel sections and number of participants. Runners accompanied by prohibited equipment can be disqualified.

Drones are also formally prohibited during the race.

Participants must complete the required Pass Prévention Santé process. For the 2027 edition, the official registration information states that the relevant health-prevention certificate must have been completed within the permitted period before the event.

The organizer also provides substantial medical support, including medical personnel, first-aid infrastructure and mobile medical units.

How to get there

Pauillac is located in the Médoc wine region north of Bordeaux. International visitors will generally reach the region through Bordeaux before continuing toward Pauillac.

The organizer provides official bus transfers between Bordeaux and Pauillac. These transfers are available by reservation and are particularly useful for runners who prefer not to drive to the Médoc.

Additional official buses operate between Pauillac and the locations of the organized evening events. The organizer also provides transfers associated with the recovery walk.

Participants driving to the Médoc should allow additional travel time because the marathon creates road restrictions and increased traffic around Pauillac and the surrounding villages.

The official website provides access maps for Pauillac and the wider Médoc region to help participants plan their arrival.

Public transport & parking

Official event buses are an important part of the transportation system.

The organizer plans bus transfers between Bordeaux and Pauillac, including services associated with the main event programme. Reservations are required for the official transfer services.

Buses also connect Pauillac with the locations used for the organized pasta evenings and the recovery-walk programme.

For visitors travelling by car, the official Pauillac access information should be checked before arrival because the marathon involves traffic restrictions around the race route.

Participants staying in Bordeaux can consider using the official event transfer instead of driving to Pauillac. This can simplify race-day logistics and avoids having to navigate roads affected by the event.

The organizer’s official maps include access information for Pauillac and the Médoc area, while final transport instructions should be checked through the event website before travelling.

Accommodation areas

Pauillac is the most convenient base for participants who want to remain close to the main marathon activities, village facilities and start-and-finish area.

Accommodation is also available throughout the wider Médoc region, including nearby wine-producing communities. Staying in the surrounding area can provide a more rural experience and easier access to vineyards and château properties.

Bordeaux is another practical base, particularly for international visitors. The organizer’s official accommodation programme offers packages involving hotels and transfers, with options ranging from accommodation in Bordeaux and its suburbs to hotels and camping facilities in the Médoc area.

The official all-inclusive registration programme combines the marathon bib with accommodation and transfers and is provided through the event’s official partner agency.

Runners staying outside Pauillac should consider booking transport early because race-day travel and road restrictions can make last-minute transfers more complicated.

Food & drink at the venue

Food and drink are central to the Marathon des Châteaux du Médoc experience.

The official programme lists 22 refreshment points along the marathon route and approximately 55 entertainment and tasting points. These include a mixture of traditional race refreshments, regional food and wine-related activities.

Food examples published by the organizer include oysters, entrecôte, cheese, grapes and ice cream. The event also features wine-tasting activities at selected points along the course.

The organizer describes the tasting tests as “oeno-sportive” activities, combining the sporting challenge with the identity of the Médoc wine region.

Participants should remember that the marathon remains a regulated sporting event. Wine tasting is part of the atmosphere, but runners are expected to participate responsibly and remain within the event’s sporting and safety requirements.

Outside the course, the Marathon Village provides additional food and drink options, while the evening programme includes organized meals, restaurants and refreshment facilities around Pauillac.

Accessibility

The event is designed primarily as a running competition on roads, paths and gravel sections through the Médoc countryside.

The course includes approximately 24% gravel sections, and the organizer describes it as undulating. This means participants should consider the terrain and their own mobility requirements before entering.

Medical and safety support is provided throughout the event. The official regulations identify medical tents, mobile medical units and trained medical personnel supporting the race.

The event also provides a free baggage service around the start and finish area, as well as showers after the marathon.

Participants requiring specific accessibility arrangements should contact the organizer directly before registering so that the start area, transport, baggage arrangements and other facilities can be discussed in advance.

The separate recovery walk is a different activity from the marathon and has its own registration and participation arrangements.

Best matches/events to attend

The main marathon is the central sporting event and is the most important activity for registered runners. Its combination of vineyards, château properties, food stops, costumes and entertainment makes the course different from a conventional city marathon.

The Marathon Village is useful for participants and accompanying visitors who want to experience the event atmosphere outside the race itself.

The Mille-Pâtes evening is one of the major organized social events, while the Pâtes-à-Caisses evening provides another food-focused gathering in Saint-Estèphe.

The race morning is particularly important for spectators because the costumed-runner presentation and pre-race entertainment take place before the start.

The awards ceremony provides an opportunity to see the leading finishers recognized, while the evening programme continues with music, fireworks and dancing.

The recovery walk is another major event for visitors who want to experience the vineyards at a slower pace. It is open to runners, accompanying people, volunteers and partners who register for the activity.

Previous year’s highlights

The previous edition was the 40th Marathon des Châteaux du Médoc and carried an “80’s” theme. The organizer published official results and photographs from the edition and continues to maintain its historical results archive.

The official results archive records Florian Laplanche as the leading male finisher, with a time of 2:27:11. Freddy Guimard and Anthony Delaby followed in the men’s overall classification.

In the women’s results, Tatiana Leite da Silva recorded the leading listed time at 3:18:51, followed by Rosemarie Stourm and Melissa Nardoux.

The event continued its established combination of competitive marathon running and a highly social programme built around the Médoc wine region.

The 2027 edition develops that identity through the new “Exploration Médoc, à la conquête du Monde !” costume theme and the continuing programme of food, tasting, entertainment and vineyard activities.

The official results archive contains results from many previous editions, allowing runners to compare historical performances and explore the event’s long-term competitive record.

Official tickets

The official Marathon des Châteaux du Médoc website is the authorized registration platform for the 2027 marathon.

Registration opens in March 2027, and the organizer states that places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

The official 2027 entry price is $128.70 USD after converting the published €110 registration fee at an approximate €1 = $1.17 exchange rate.

The published package prices are:

• Festive Pack: $165.00 USD
• Pleasure Pack: $196.56 USD
• Initiation Pack: $195.39 USD
• Prestige Pack: $269.10 USD

The Festive Pack combines the marathon bib with the Pâtes-à-Caisses evening. The Pleasure Pack includes the marathon and recovery walk with lunch. The Initiation Pack combines the marathon bib with the Mille-Pâtes dinner, while the Prestige Pack combines the marathon, Mille-Pâtes dinner, recovery walk and lunch.

The organizer also offers an all-inclusive registration option through its official accommodation partner, combining the bib, accommodation, transfers and customizable options.

Runners should register only through the official Marathon des Châteaux du Médoc website because the organizer controls the bib allocation and registration process.