10 Peaceful Running Routes in the South of France
Whether you’re looking to stride alongside Europe’s answer to the Grand Canyon or to jog through alpine villages on the Italian border, the south of France offers a variety of peaceful running routes.
Littoral St Tropez
The coastline around the chic village of St Tropez is rugged, picturesque and can be surprisingly uncrowded in the early summer mornings – maybe because everyone has often partied too hard the night before. Follow the coastal route, marked Le Littoral.
Lac de Peyrolles
Lac de Peyrolles
To the north of Aix, the lake at Peyrolles (a small town packed full of roadside fruit and vegetable markets) is an old quarry that was filled with water and is now a major rowing and swimming hub on hot summer days for the locals. There are running routes around the lake, a drinks stand for water and you can finish with a dip.
Parc de la Torse
Park
Parc Borély
Park
Sainte-Victoire Mountain
Sainte-Victoire Mountain
Local artist Paul Cézanne painted his beloved Sainte-Victoire mountain again and again and it’s an ideal running area, just outside Aix-en-Provence. For ideas of the many routes to take, read our guide here.
Running around the Sainte Victoire | © Andy Maguire/Flickr
Parc National du Mercantour
Park
Via Rhôna
Forest
Luberon National Park
Park
Lac Sainte-Croix
Lac Sainte-Croix
The Verdon gorge is Europe’s answer to the Grand Canyon and it winds its way into the Sainte-Croix lake. Even though the lake gets busy in the summer, its sheer size hides the masses of people.
Porquerolles Island
Porquerolles Island
The small island of Porquerolles, off the rugged coast of Hyères, is a jogging haven. It’s a protected area, where eucalyptus trees have been planted for shade and where cars aren’t allowed. Check out our guide on when and where to go.
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