Founded by a group of marathon-running friends together with the Commanderie du Bontemps, the Marathon des Châteaux du Médoc, known simply as "the Médoc", winds through more than 50 wine châteaux in a single loop from the quays of Pauillac. More than nine in ten runners race in costume, around a theme that changes every year, and the course is lined with aid stations, wine tastings and food stops. The organisers are clear about the spirit: health, sport, conviviality and celebration come first, and runners chasing a fast time are better off elsewhere.
There is no lottery. Registration is first-come, first-served on the official website only, and entries are capped at 8,500 runners, a limit the organisers keep on purpose to preserve the atmosphere. For the official entry and all details, head to the Marathon des Châteaux du Médoc website.
Key dates
- Registration WindowExpected Mar 2027
- Race daySep 4, 2027
Windows are shown to the month until the organiser confirms them. Subscribers get the exact day, by email, on the morning it opens.
Don't miss the opening. The Médoc Marathon is first-come, first-served and sells out. Set up a BibsAlert and we'll email you the moment registration goes live.
How to enter the Médoc Marathon
Entry is first-come, first-served, with no lottery and no qualifying time.
1. General Registration (First-Come, First-Served)
Register on the official website, the only place entries are taken, paying by card. Registration opens in early March. A bib on its own costs around €110, and packs bundle the bib with the Friday night pasta dinners or the Sunday walk and lunch at a small discount. You can book a group of 2 to 30 bibs at once, but you then have 48 hours to enter each runner's details: bibs left unnamed are cancelled and refunded minus a €13 fee. Runners must be at least 20 on race day and provide a Pass Prévention Santé (PPS) certificate from the French Athletics Federation (FFA).
2. All-Inclusive Packages
Tuttiquanti, the race's official partner agency, sells all-inclusive packages combining a bib with accommodation, transfers and optional extras. These open alongside general registration.
3. Châteaux and Company Teams
Teams from wine estates and companies can enter the Challenge Châteaux & Entreprises, ranked on the five best times of each team. To take part, contact the organisers directly.
The course
The Médoc is a single loop through the vineyards of the Médoc, passing more than 50 châteaux.
- Start: The quays of Pauillac
- Finish: The same quays in Pauillac
- Distance: 42.195 km, officially measured
- Start Time: 9:30am
- Time Limit: 6 hours 30 minutes
The course is rolling, with about a quarter of it on gravel vineyard tracks, and it is closed to traffic for the full 6 hours 30 minutes. Along the way there are 22 aid stations, around twenty wine tastings and dozens of entertainment and food points serving oysters, entrecôte, cheese, grapes and ice cream. Sweepers run at the 6:30 pace: anyone behind them at halfway is taken out of the race, and the finish line closes after 6 hours 30 minutes. Bikes, dogs and Nordic walking poles are banned on the course, while hand-pulled or pushed floats are allowed.
Why run the Médoc Marathon?
- Fancy dress: More than 90% of runners wear costumes on the year's theme, and the most voluminous costumes and the best floats win prizes.
- Wine and food on the course: Around twenty tastings of grands crus, in moderation, plus oysters, entrecôte, cheese and ice cream along the route.
- A whole weekend: The Mille-Pâtes pasta dinner at a château on Friday, fireworks and dancing on the Pauillac quays on Saturday night, and a 10 km recovery walk through the vineyards with lunch on Sunday.
- Rewards for every finisher: Everyone who finishes within 6 hours 30 minutes receives a medal, a bag and a bottle of wine in a gift box.
Missed out?
Spots for the Médoc Marathon sell out fast. If you missed this year's window, you still have options:
- Charity & partner entries: Many races reserve guaranteed places with charity partners and official tour operators, even after general entry sells out. Check the official website for partners.
- Try a similar race: Check the related races below for races with similar entry types, dates, or locations.
- Be ready next year: Set up a BibsAlert so you don't miss the moment registration opens.
Questions runners ask
Is there a lottery for the Médoc Marathon?
No. Registration is first-come, first-served on the official website only, and typically opens in early March. Entries are capped at 8,500 runners.
Who can enter?
Runners who are at least 20 years old on race day. Every runner must also provide a Pass Prévention Santé (PPS) certificate, the French Athletics Federation's online health prevention pass, valid on race day.
What is the time limit?
6 hours 30 minutes. Sweepers run at that pace: runners behind them at halfway are taken out of the race, and the finish line closes after 6 hours 30 minutes.
Can I transfer or resell my bib?
No. Transfers are not allowed and only the organisers may buy a bib back, until the end of June, minus a 13 euro fee. After that, only runners who took the optional 13 euro cancellation cover can be refunded, for reasons such as serious illness or injury.
When do I collect my bib?
In person only, on the Friday before the race at the Cosec in Pauillac, from 10am to 11pm. There is no pickup on race morning and nobody can collect a bib for you.
Looking ahead
Registration for the next edition typically opens in early March on the official website, first-come, first-served. With entries capped at 8,500 runners, set up a BibsAlert to be notified as soon as it opens.