Maginot Trail

A trail in the heart of Thiérache's heritage

The Maginot Trail was born in 2022 from the initiative of the association Running Trail Thiérache (RTT), a running and walking club based in Saint-Michel-en-Thiérache, Aisne. Driven by Philippe Lefèvre and a team of enthusiasts, this original sporting event combines trail running and discovery of the historical heritage of Thiérache, on the borders of Picardy and Ardennes.

Three courses in the state forest

The event offers three trail distances with staggered starts from the Saint-Michel municipal stadium:

• Le Pic Épeiche — 32 km (704 m D+): the most demanding course, starts at 8:30 AM.
• Le Gratte Pierre — 24 km (588 m D+): intermediate course, starts at 9:00 AM. Host of the Aisne departmental trail championships in 2025.
• La Rochette — 12 km (237 m D+): discovery course accessible to all, starts at 9:30 AM.

A hiking tour of 6 to 10 km is also offered for walkers wishing to discover the route at their own pace.

Remarkable heritage on the course

The route, 95% in a forest environment, crosses the Saint-Michel state forest and offers runners an immersion in exceptional heritage. After starting from the municipal stadium, participants will pass by the magnificent abbey site of Saint-Michel-en-Thiérache, founded in 945 by Irish monks — the only abbey still standing in Thiérache, with its 12th-century Romanesque church with chapels arranged at a 45° angle to the nave. In the forest, runners will discover the blockhouses of the Maginot Line, fortifications built from 1936 to protect France's northern border. The return journey goes through the Sougland Foundries, an industrial site founded in 1543 by Thomas de Canone, considered the oldest company in Hauts-de-France.

A growing friendly event

Since its creation, the Maginot Trail has seen growing enthusiasm, with record participation in the 2024 edition. The atmosphere is resolutely friendly: aid stations on the courses, changing rooms and showers at the stadium, refreshment and catering on site. The event welcomes around 200 runners and walkers of all levels each year, in a sporting and festive spirit that is the pride of Thiérache.