In short
The 41st Marathon des Châteaux du Médoc is on Saturday 4 September 2027: one 42.195 km loop through the vineyards and châteaux that starts and finishes on the quays of Pauillac, run in fancy dress by tradition. Pauillac has only a few hotels, so if you want to walk to the start, book there first; otherwise stay in Bordeaux, about 50 km away, where the official race buses leave from, or in a Médoc village such as Saint-Julien, Saint-Estèphe, Margaux or Lesparre. Entries open in early March 2027 and sold out quickly in 2026, so book a room you can cancel now.
Where to stay for the Médoc Marathon
Pick an area to see hotels and rentals there at live prices.
Start Finish Acheer spot Course
Download the course (GPX)Course map as an image Traced by marathonbeds from the latest published course, not the official file. Check the official map before race day.
Hotels and rentals at live prices, Fri 3 Sept to Sun 5 Sept. Open the live map for Pauillac (the quays) ↗
Prices and availability come from booking sites through Stay22. Change the dates on the map if you are staying longer.
Course sheet
In race order, not to scale
- Quays of PauillacStart by the Gironde estuary, heading north, then west and south out of town
- Château Batailleykm 5 (mile 3)Through the Pauillac vineyards on the D206
- Château Lagrangekm 10 (mile 6)The southwest corner of the loop, in Saint-Julien
- Saint-Julien-Beychevellekm 16 (mile 10) · cheer spotWine village on the D2, after Beychevelle and Langoa-Barton
- Pauillac town centrekm 20 (mile 12) · cheer spotBack through town near halfway, on Rue Albert 1er
- Château Lafite Rothschildkm 25 (mile 16)The famous names of north Pauillac: Pontet-Canet, Mouton, Lafite
- Marbuzet, Saint-Estèphekm 31 (mile 19)Haut-Marbuzet, after Leyssac and Pomys
- Estuary road, Pauillackm 41 (mile 26) · cheer spotThe last kilometres south along the Gironde
- Quays of PauillacFinish on the quays where you started
Médoc Marathon race morning
The start is on the quays of Pauillac. The 2027 programme and FAQ say 09:00 but the 2027 rules say 09:30, the 2026 start time, so check the runner guide in August. In 2026 the publicity caravan left at 09:00 and the start show began at 09:15, and runners went through a security check to reach the start area (no bulky bags). There is a free bag locker in the start and finish area. Bibs are collected only on the Friday, so nothing is handed out on race morning. In 2026 the official buses left Bordeaux at 06:30 and the regional shuttle at 06:15.
Compare the areas
Walking times along the streets from the centre of each area. On race morning, allow extra time for crowds and closed roads.
| Area | Good for | Walk to the start | Walk to the finish | Walk to bib pickup | Getting to the start |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pauillac (the quays) | Start and finish | 7 min | 8 min | 13 min | Walk to the start on the quays. In 2026 runners entered the start area through security checks and bulky bags were not allowed. |
| Saint-Julien-Beychevelle | On course | Train or bus | Train or bus | 51 min | Drive or take a taxi about 5 km north to Pauillac on the D2, which is part of the course later in the morning, so leave early and check the 2027 road closures. There is no train station in the village. |
| Saint-Estèphe | On course | Train or bus | Train or bus | Train or bus | Drive or take a taxi about 7 km south to Pauillac before the course roads close; there is no train station in the village. Check the 2027 road closures when they are published. |
| Lesparre-Médoc | Value base | Train or bus | Train or bus | Train or bus | Take TER line 42 from Lesparre one stop south to Pauillac, then walk from the station to the quays. Check the race-morning train times when the 2027 timetable is out. |
| Margaux | Race morning transport | Train or bus | Train or bus | Train or bus | Take TER line 42 from Margaux to Pauillac (two stops, via Moulis-Listrac), then walk from the station to the quays. Check the race-morning train times when the 2027 timetable is out. |
| Bordeaux city centre (Quinconces) | Race morning transport | Train or bus | Train or bus | Train or bus | In 2026 the official race buses left Rue Ferrère (by the Quinconces) and the Hôtel Pullman at Bordeaux Lac at 06:30, booked in advance, and the Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine shuttle left the Allées de Bristol at 06:15, booked in the Cars33 app. Check the 2027 buses when they are published in spring. |
Where to watch the Médoc Marathon
Bikes are banned on the course, so supporters use the marked 26 km spectator bike circuit from Pauillac, or watch on foot in Pauillac at the start, around km 20 and in the last kilometres.
-
km 16 (mile 10)
Saint-Julien-Beychevelle
A wine village on the D2 about 5 km south of Pauillac, a stop on the official spectator bike circuit. In 2026 the runners passed this point (km 16) between about 10:20 and 12:15; then ride back to Pauillac for km 20.
Stays near Saint-Julien-Beychevelle ↗ -
km 20 (mile 12)
Pauillac town centre
The course comes back through town near halfway, a short walk from the quays. In 2026 the runners passed the km 20 point between about 10:35 and 12:50.
Stays near Pauillac town centre ↗ -
km 41 (mile 26)
Estuary road, Pauillac
The last kilometres run south along the Gironde into Pauillac; this spot is about 1 km north of the finish, an easy walk from the quays. In 2026 the runners passed the km 41 points between about 11:45 and 16:15.
Stays near Estuary road, Pauillac ↗ -
Meet your runner
The finish is on the quays where the race started, with showers and the free bag locker nearby. No meeting area is published, so agree on a spot before race day; the official app has live tracking. The finish line closes 6 h 30 after the start.
The official hotels, explained
Tuttiquanti is the race's official travel agency. Its packs include a guaranteed bib, 2 nights (Friday and Saturday) with breakfast and transfers to bib pickup and to the race; the hotels listed for 2027 are all in Bordeaux. Booking opens with entries in March 2027.
| Official hotel offer | Our maps | |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs it | Tuttiquanti | Every hotel and rental near each area |
| Prices | Listed on the official site | Live prices from several booking sites |
| Minimum stay and cancellation | 2 nights, Friday and Saturday. Prices, deposit and cancellation terms for 2027 are not published yet. | Filter for free cancellation |
| Need to buy a package? | Yes | No |
See the official hotel offer ↗ · We link to the official option and explain its terms, so you can compare before you book.
When to book
We suggest 2 nights, Fri 3 Sept to Sun 5 Sept: time to settle in before the race and a night of rest after it. The official hotels ask for at least 2 nights.
- NowBook a room with free cancellation near the start.
- Fri, 3 Sept 2027Expo opens. Collect your bib.
- Fri, 3 Sept 2027Last chance to collect your bib.
- Your cancellation dateKeep or cancel before it passes.
- Sat, 4 Sept 2027Race day.
Free guide
The Unofficial 2027 Médoc Marathon Where to Stay Guide
Every area, the race morning plan and the booking dates in one place, updated every year.
Médoc Marathon questions
Where should I stay for the Médoc Marathon?
In Pauillac if you can: the start, the finish and the Friday bib pickup are all there, but there are only a few hotels. Otherwise stay in Bordeaux and take the official race bus, or in a wine village such as Saint-Julien, Saint-Estèphe or Margaux, or in Lesparre-Médoc, one train stop from Pauillac.
Can I stay in Bordeaux for the Médoc Marathon?
Yes. Pauillac is about 50 km away. In 2026 the official buses left central Bordeaux (Rue Ferrère) and Bordeaux Lac at 06:30 for 28 euros, booked in advance, and the regional shuttle left Quinconces at 06:15. TER line 42 also runs from Bordeaux Saint-Jean to Pauillac. The 2027 timetables are not out yet.
When and where do I pick up my bib?
Only on Friday 3 September 2027, 10:00 to 23:00, at the Cosec sports hall in Pauillac, in person, with your pickup voucher. There is no pickup on race morning. Every runner needs a valid Pass Prévention Santé (PPS) from the French athletics federation.
Is there wine on the course?
Yes. Châteaux along the course offer wine tastings, which are optional, and the organisers ask runners to taste in moderation. Finishers within 6 h 30 get a boxed bottle of wine that is not to be opened on site.
Do I have to run in fancy dress?
Fancy dress is the tradition: the race's motto is that the Médoc is run in costume, and each year has a theme. The 2027 theme is Expédition Médoc, à la conquête du monde (Expedition Médoc, conquering the world). Costumes should stay family-friendly.
When do entries open for 2027?
In early March 2027, on the official website, first come first served, for 8,500 places. Entry is 110 euros. Runners must be at least 20 on race day, and bibs cannot be transferred: only the organisers buy them back, until 30 June 2027.
How many nights should I book for the Médoc Marathon?
We suggest 2 nights, Fri 3 Sept to Sun 5 Sept: time to settle in before the race and a night of rest after it. The official hotels ask for at least 2 nights. Book with free cancellation so you can change your plans.
Official race site ↗ · Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Photo credits
- Château Lafite Rothschild seen across the vines in Pauillac: MaT-WiKi1, CC BY-SA 4.0
- The marina on the Pauillac waterfront: F.FATIN, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Château Beychevelle in Saint-Julien-Beychevelle: PA, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Saint-Estèphe and its church tower beyond the vineyards: Jack ma, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Rooftops of Lesparre-Médoc and the church spire: Chatsam, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The main façade of Château Margaux: Jibi44, CC BY-SA 4.0
- The rostral columns of Place des Quinconces seen from the Garonne: Coyau, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The church of Saint-Julien-Beychevelle: René Hourdry, CC BY-SA 4.0
- The Saint-Martin church in Pauillac town centre: M.Strīķis, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Reeds and fishing huts on the Gironde estuary at Pauillac: Anthony Baratier, CC BY-SA 4.0
- The quays of Pauillac on the Gironde: Anthony Baratier, CC BY-SA 4.0
