THE ULTRA-TRAIL OF THE ROYAL FORTRESSES OF LANGUEDOC: AURÉLIEN SANCHEZ ON HIS WAY TO AN EXCEPTIONAL CHALLENGE

From the Pog de Montségur to the towers of Lastours, Aude ultra-runner Aurélien Sanchez embarks on an unprecedented journey: to connect, on foot, in less than 48 hours, the eight royal fortresses of Languedoc. A challenge driven by a passion for sport, heritage, and his native region.

Self-sufficient and self-supported, the athlete from Belvèze-du-Razès will navigate solely with a map and compass. He will start on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, for a 240-kilometer course with over 8,000 meters of positive elevation gain, with an estimated arrival in Lastours on November 7.

A CHALLENGE TO PROMOTE THE REGION AND ITS HERITAGE

Winner of the legendary Barkley in 2023, one of the world’s most demanding races, Aurélien Sanchez is now dedicating his endurance to promoting his region. Through this monumental sporting challenge, he aims to support the candidacy of the royal fortresses of Languedoc for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List, a project particularly close to his heart. “This is my way of contributing to this candidacy and paying tribute to my region. I am very proud to be part of this meaningful project!”