TRAIL DES HÉRÉTIQUES 2026

Presentation

The Grand Raid des Cathares is an Ultra Trail event featuring 7 different race formats. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced trail runner, there is a race for every level.

Created in 2015, the Grand Raid des Cathares held its twelfth edition on October 22, 23 and 24, 2026, starting from Carcassonne.

The Trail des Hérétiques is a race limited to 620 participants. It is a nature trail race using tracks, trails, and paths throughout the Aude department. The course forms a loop starting from the medieval City of Carcassonne, at the Narbonne Gate, and finishing at the Dome (the same location as race bib collection).

It offers a route that is both tourist-oriented and historical, alternating between paths, tracks, and landscapes in the southern Carcassonne area through vast forests.

Start time: 4:00 a.m.
Maximum time allowed: 13 hours.

7 races are on the program:
Grand Raid des Cathares: 161 km – 7,000 m elevation gain – October 22 at 9:00 p.m.
Raid des Bogomiles: 101 km – 4,300 m elevation gain – October 23 at 11:00 a.m.
Raid des Troubadours: 85 km – 3,200 m elevation gain – October 23 at 9:00 a.m.
Trail des Hérétiques: 63 km – 2,750 m elevation gain – October 24 at 4:00 a.m.
Trail des Colombes: 41 km – 1,300 m elevation gain – October 24 at 8:00 a.m.
Trail des Patarins: 25 km – 850 m elevation gain – October 23 at 2:00 p.m.
Night Trail of the Château Comtal: 12 km – 250 m elevation gain – October 23 at 8:00 p.m.