La Trace Impériale
Trail, VTT and hiking on the footsteps of Napoleon in Brienne-le-Château
2026
About La Trace Impériale
La Trace Impériale is a sporting hike held in late September in Brienne-le-Château, Aube, organized by the VTT Rand'Orient club, affiliated with UFOLEP. Starting from the town hall, the event features mountain bike (MTB) and e-MTB routes of 25, 35, and 45 km, as well as trail running and a 12 km walk. Participants traverse the Forêt d'Orient Regional Natural Park and the winding banks of the Aube river, in the very town where a young Napoleon Bonaparte once attended the Royal Military School. The event is open to everyone, whether licensed or not, and is non-timed, with online registration required.
La Trace Impériale — edition 2026
The 4th edition of La Trace Impériale takes place on Sunday, September 27th, 2026, in Brienne-le-Château, starting from the covered market (halle). The VTT Rand'Orient club is offering three mountain bike and e-MTB routes of 25, 35, and 45 km, two trail runs of 15 and 20 km, and a 12 km walk, with staggered starts from 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM. Registration opens on September 1st, 2026, via Billetweb, ranging from €8 to €10 depending on the event.
4th edition, Sunday, September 27th, 2026
La Trace Impériale returns to Brienne-le-Château for its fourth edition on Sunday, September 27th, 2026. The start and finish lines are located under the covered market, rue de la Halle. The VTT Rand'Orient club, affiliated with UFOLEP, has marked out five routes: 25, 35, and 45 km for mountain bikes and e-MTBs, 15 and 20 km trail runs, and a 12 km walk. The event is open to everyone, whether licensed or not, and is not timed.
Registration
Registration opens on September 1st, 2026, online via Billetweb. The 25 km mountain bike, trail runs, and walk are €8, while the 35 km and 45 km mountain bike routes are €10. On-site registration is possible on the day of the event for an additional €2. The walk is free for children under 10. The confirmation received by email, either printed or on a smartphone, is required at the start. Registrations are non-refundable.
Regulations
Helmets are mandatory for all mountain bike routes. The minimum age is 14 for the 25 km mountain bike route and 16 for the 35 km and 45 km routes; there is no minimum age for the walk and trail runs, but minors must be accompanied by a participating adult or qualified supervisor. Each participant must be covered by individual insurance and civil liability. Dogs on leashes are allowed only on the walking routes. The security desk can be reached at 06 89 29 00 85. The event is registered with the sub-prefecture of Bar-sur-Aube.
Highlights La Trace Impériale 2026
- 4th edition, Sunday, September 27th, 2026, starts from 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM under the Brienne-le-Château market hall
- Five marked routes: 25, 35, and 45 km mountain bike and e-MTB, 15 and 20 km trail, 12 km walk
- Registration opens September 1st, 2026, on Billetweb, from €8 to €10 depending on the event
- One free drink at the finish, including organic La Ch'tite Cunfinoise beer brewed in Cunfin, Aube
- Walk is free for children under 10
Programme La Trace Impériale 2026
Sunday, September 27th, 2026 — staggered starts under the Brienne-le-Château market hall
Five marked routes, all starting and finishing at the market hall, rue de la Halle. The wristband provided at the start matches the trail markings: green for the 25 km mountain bike, blue for the 35 km, and red for the 45 km. The walking routes follow dedicated markers: purple for the trail and orange for the walk.
8:00 AM – 8:30 AM · 35 km and 45 km Mountain Bike
- 35 km MTB — blue, leisure route · single-track sections overlooking the Aube river, climbs and descents · technical rating ★★★☆☆, for experienced riders · approx. 450 m elevation gain · one refreshment station at 23 km · e-MTBs can complete the course without issue · €10 online / €12 on-site · minimum age 16
- 45 km MTB — red, technical and physical route · covers much of the 35 km route plus additional woodland sections towards the lakes · technical rating ★★★★☆, for advanced riders · approx. 550 m elevation gain · two refreshment stations, at 23 km and 35 km · e-MTBs are welcome, but there are no charging points on the course or at refreshment stations · €10 online / €12 on-site · minimum age 16
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM · 25 km Mountain Bike and Trail
- 25 km MTB — green, leisure and discovery route · trails in the Forêt d'Orient Regional Natural Park, alternating between rolling paths and single-track sections, passing along the meanders of the Aube · technical rating ★★☆☆☆, for leisure riders and beginners · approx. 250 m elevation gain · one refreshment station at 14 km · €8 online / €10 on-site · minimum age 14
- 15 km and 20 km Trail — purple markers · single-track sections along the banks of the Aube and through woodland · technical rating ★★★☆☆ · one refreshment station at 7 km · €8 online / €10 on-site · no minimum age · dogs on leashes allowed
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM · 12 km Walk
- 12 km Walk — orange markers, leisure route · open paths and shaded forest sections, winding trails along the Aube, refreshment station at 6 km at the Basse-Fontaine Abbey, return via the old imperial road with views of the Château de Brienne, bypassing the arboretum and arriving under the large market hall · technical rating ★☆☆☆☆ · 100 m elevation gain · €8 online / €10 on-site, free for children under 10 · no minimum age · dogs on leashes allowed
Continuous service at the finish
- Rand'Orient Refreshment Bar under the market hall: first drink free for every participant upon presentation of the wristband, including organic La Ch'tite Cunfinoise beer brewed in Cunfin (Aube) for adults, and soft drinks or water for minors
- Catering: fries and sausages provided under the large market hall by volunteers from the "Brienne en fête" association
- Mechanical assistance: an air pump is available at every refreshment station
For the trail distances, the 2026 poster and homepage announce 15 and 20 km, while the "Routes" page still describes the 2025 layout (16 km plus a 2 km "bonus track" for a total of 18 km and 220-230 m elevation gain): the 2026 tracks are currently being finalized. The organizer specifies that all routes are provided for information purposes and may be modified at the last minute due to weather, technical, or administrative conditions.
Prices La Trace Impériale 2026
25 km MTB: €8 online / €10 on-site
35 km MTB: €10 online / €12 on-site
45 km MTB: €10 online / €12 on-site
Trail: €8 online / €10 on-site
12 km Walk: €8 online / €10 on-site, free for children under 10
On-site registration possible on the day, €2 surcharge applies.
Refreshment stations on the routes and one drink at the finish (beer, water, or soda) included in the registration fee.
Practical information — La Trace Impériale
Practical information
Start and finish
Halle de Brienne-le-Château, rue de la Halle, 10500 Brienne-le-Château. GPS coordinates: 48°23.300'N / 004°31.292'E.
Access
- From Troyes (40 km, approx. 40 min): Take the D960 towards Piney, then continue to Brienne-le-Château.
- From Bar-sur-Aube (approx. 25 min): Take the D619 towards Troyes, then turn right at the exit of Arsonval onto the D396 towards Bossancourt and Brienne-le-Château.
- Motorway: A5 exit n°22 "Magnan" (30 km away) or A26 exit n°21 "Vallée de l'Aube" (30 km away).
Registration
Online via Billetweb. On-site registration is possible on the day of the event for an additional €2 fee. You must present your email confirmation (printed or on your smartphone) at the start.
Equipment
Helmets are mandatory for mountain biking. The organizer recommends wearing gloves, a breathable long-sleeved jersey, a windbreaker for the early morning start, a hydration pack, a spare inner tube, a mini-pump or CO2 cartridge, tire levers, a multi-tool, and a fully charged phone. An air pump is available at every refreshment station.
Contact
Club VTT Rand'Orient, affiliated with UFOLEP, association n° W103001755, registered office at Cosec de Bar-sur-Aube, 10200 Bar-sur-Aube. President: Sandy Chaufournier. Phone: 06 89 29 00 85 (also the security contact number on the day of the event). Email: [email protected]. Website: www.randorient.fr
A hike in the footsteps of Napoleon
The VTT Rand'Orient club organizes La Trace Impériale, starting from the imperial town of Brienne-le-Château in the Aube department. This is a non-timed sporting event open to all, regardless of whether you hold a sports license. Participants choose their route based on their skill level, depart within a set time window, and follow color-coded markers and ribbons. The wristband provided at the start corresponds to the color of the chosen route.
The trails wind through the Forêt d'Orient Regional Natural Park and along the meanders of the Aube, featuring a mix of rolling paths, single-tracks, and woodland sections. Both the start and finish lines are located under the hall in Brienne-le-Château, on rue de la Halle.
The routes
- MTB 25 km, green markers — a recreational discovery route with approximately 250m of elevation gain and one refreshment station.
- MTB 35 km, blue markers — a fun route for experienced mountain bikers, with about 450m of elevation gain and single-tracks overlooking the Aube.
- MTB 45 km, red markers — a technical and physical route for advanced riders, with approximately 550m of elevation gain and two refreshment stations.
- Trail running — a route dedicated to trail runners, featuring single-tracks along the banks of the Aube and woodland paths, with an extended option available.
- 12 km walk — an accessible route with a refreshment stop at the Basse-Fontaine Abbey and a return via the old imperial road, facing the château de Brienne.
E-MTBs are welcome on all MTB routes, though there are no charging points on the course or at refreshment stations. Helmets are mandatory for all cyclists. Dogs on leashes are permitted only on the walking routes.
Refreshments and dining
A snack bar and food service are available under the hall at the finish line. Every participant receives a complimentary drink upon presenting their wristband.
Where does it take place — La Trace Impériale
La Trace Impériale in brief
Other festivals near Brienne-le-Château
Festival-goer reviews
No review yet. Be the first!
No rating yet — be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community
Have you spotted an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every suggestion is reviewed by our team before publication.
Festival-goer photos
No photo yet. Share yours!
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)