Marathon de la Cote d’Amour

Location: La Baule-Escoublac

Country:  France
Website:  https://www.marathondelacotedamour.com/
2025 Marathon Date:  09/11/2025
2026 Marathon Date:  08/11/2026
Winning Time 2025: 2:09:51

% Sub-3s:  2-5%
# Sub-3s:  100-499
Total Runners: 3-10k

The Marathon International de la Côte d’Amour Amarris offers one of France’s most scenic and varied marathon experiences, unfolding across the stunning Guérande peninsula in the Loire-Atlantique region. Known for its flat, fast and gently rolling profile, the event has earned a reputation as one of the quickest marathons in France, ideal for runners targeting personal bests while enjoying a route deeply rooted in the history and landscapes of the Atlantic coast. Its setting across several coastal communes — La Baule, Le Pouliguen, Guérande, Batz-sur-Mer and Le Croisic — creates a course rich in contrast and character.

The race begins and ends on the promenade of La Baule, facing the sweeping bay of Pouliguen. This beachfront start sets an immediate tone of openness and light, with ocean views framing the early strides. The marathon’s single-loop route then carries runners inland toward the fortified medieval town of Guérande, whose historic streets offer a marked shift from the coastal setting. From here, the course moves into one of the region’s most distinctive environments: the salt marshes, or marais salants, where geometric basins and wide horizons create a serene, almost otherworldly backdrop.

Beyond the marshes, the route turns toward the wild coast — the côte sauvage — passing through Le Pouliguen, Batz-sur-Mer and eventually reaching the rugged shoreline near Le Croisic. This section blends dramatic coastal scenery with the charm of small Atlantic villages, offering a rhythm of changing vistas without significant elevation demands. The total ascent of less than 100 metres (approximately 97 m D+) makes the marathon particularly suitable for steady pacing and time-focused running. Even so, the constant interplay of sea, countryside and heritage gives the route a sense of progression that keeps the experience engaging from kilometre to kilometre.

The event forms part of a broader weekend festival of running, featuring additional race formats that welcome athletes of varying ages and abilities. This inclusive atmosphere, combined with a course that marries speed with beauty, positions the Marathon de la Côte d’Amour Amarris as a standout in France’s coastal racing calendar. With its blend of Atlantic vistas, historic townscapes and salt-marsh serenity, it delivers a memorable journey across one of the country’s most distinctive maritime landscapes.