Carcassonne Medieval City hosts Grand Raid on 22 October

The Grand Raid des Cathares starts at Carcassonne Medieval City (Cité de Carcassonne) in France on 22 October 2026, bringing seven trail races to the historic centre of Carcassonne. The programme continues through 24 October and includes starts from the Porte de Narbonne at Place du Prado.

Grand Raid des Cathares starts at the medieval city

The 12th edition of the Grand Raid des Cathares is scheduled for 22, 23 and 24 October 2026. The event is an ultra-trail competition with seven race formats, beginning with the 161-kilometre Grand Raid des Cathares at 9pm on 22 October.

The organiser lists the Raid des Bogomiles, Raid des Troubadours, Trail des Hérétiques, Trail des Colombes, Trail des Patarins and Trail nocturne du château comtal alongside the main race. The 2026 race programme identifies the event as an ultra-trail meeting based in Carcassonne and sets out the dates and starting times.

The Raid des Troubadours leaves on 23 October at 9am, while the Trail des Patarins starts at 2pm and the night trail begins at 8pm on the same day. The Trail des Hérétiques and Trail des Colombes follow on 24 October at 4am and 8am respectively.

Seven trail races use a World Heritage setting

The event gives the medieval city a precise role rather than using it only as a name for the wider destination. The organiser places several starts at the Porte de Narbonne, making the fortified entrance a departure point for runners heading into the wider Aude landscape.

The historic fortified city is a medieval settlement surrounded by a large defensive system, with the castle, associated buildings, streets and Gothic cathedral enclosed by its defences. France’s culture ministry describes the site as an example of a fortified medieval city whose ramparts reuse walls dating from Late Antiquity. Its World Heritage status and restoration history also connect the race setting with the conservation work led by Viollet-le-Duc.

Carcassonne entered the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997. The trail programme therefore begins beside a fortified landscape whose present appearance reflects both medieval defensive construction and nineteenth-century restoration.

What the 2026 starts mean for the city centre

The listed departures are concentrated across three dates, with the Porte de Narbonne and Place du Prado serving as the clearest reference point for the competition. The programme also includes a night departure from the area around the comtal castle, linking the sporting schedule with named parts of the historic site.

The published race details describe routes by distance and elevation rather than as sightseeing circuits. The longest listed course covers 161 kilometres with 7,000 metres of elevation gain, while the night trail covers 12 kilometres with 250 metres of elevation gain. These figures describe the races and do not define a general walking route through the city.

Visiting Carcassonne Medieval City: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The Grand Raid des Cathares takes place from 22 to 24 October 2026, with starts at Carcassonne Medieval City including the Porte de Narbonne at Place du Prado.
• The event schedule identifies race departures, but it does not state that the whole medieval city or its main attractions close. The documented visitor-relevant change is the use of named city entrances and areas for starts.
• Carcassonne Medieval City is in Carcassonne, in the Aude department of southern France. The event information names the Porte de Narbonne and Place du Prado as a starting area.
• The race terrain includes substantial elevation changes, from 250 metres on the 12-kilometre night trail to 7,000 metres on the 161-kilometre main race.
• The official language is French and the national currency is the euro.

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Frequently asked questions about Carcassonne Medieval City

When does the Grand Raid des Cathares take place at Carcassonne Medieval City?

The 2026 edition runs from 22 to 24 October 2026, with several race starts at or near the medieval city.

Where is Carcassonne Medieval City and how do you get there?

It is in Carcassonne, in southern France. The race information identifies the Porte de Narbonne at Place du Prado as a starting point.

What is Carcassonne Medieval City?

It is a fortified medieval city whose historic defensive system surrounds the castle and associated buildings. The site has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1997.