The Marche Roanne-Thiers is a historic event in Roanne. Born in 1925, today it is the expected rendezvous of the 1er weekend of December for walkers and runners who wish to cover the 57 kilometers of distance which separate the 2 cities! A night walk away from performances where conviviality is the key word.
Next edition in December 2024
The 2023 edition: Roanne > Thiers
This year, the famous night walk left Roanne (Fontalon municipal gymnasium – boulevard Thiers) on Saturday December 2.
The cold did not scare the walkers since the participation record was broken with 2 participants compared to 361 in 1969.
The first runner crossed the finish line in Thiers, in Puy-de-Dôme, after 57 km of intense efforts, at 5:29 a.m. on Sunday morning.
Roanne Thiers, a mythical origin
The Roanne-Thiers night walk was created on 1er weekend of December 1925 by Lucien Clairet, Henri Disson and Gustave Fontaine, following a bet. The story goes that Lucien Clairet, after a cinema screening, suggests to his two friends that they have an aperitif... In Thiers! Without knowing the destination beforehand, the 2 friends accept and will take on the challenge of reaching Thiers on foot.
Over the following years, a small group of friends continued this meeting. In 1935, an association was created "the Montagnard Roannais Group" to expand the event. Almost 100 years later, the one that was the first city-to-city walk today has a national reputation which welcomes up to 1500 participants in each edition.
How to prepare for Roanne Thiers?
Adeline Martin, trail world champion, has never done the famous Roanne-Thiers night walk but her route and her track record give confidence. She spoke during an interview in order to advise all the participants ready to face the 57 kilometers and the 1500 meters of altitude difference which separate the towns of Roanne and Thiers. Read the rest of the article
The 10 commandments of Roanne Thiers
- Roanne Thiers is not a competition, the pace is free. There is no individual classification.
- Thiers Roanne is a demanding event. It is important to prepare morally and physically. Although supplies are sufficient, it is advisable to have drinks, sweets and clothes in your backpack.
- Your registration request constitutes a declaration of good health and a declaration of no medical contraindication.
- Children under 15 (unaccompanied) are not admitted.
- For children under 18, parental authorization must be submitted upon registration.
- Each walker must be equipped with a reflective clothing or armband, a headlamp or light devices for his personal safety. He must respect the highway code and walk on the side of the road, facing vehicles. He must respect nature: do not throw away paper, cups and other waste
- Following cars are strictly prohibited on the course.
- Participants must not deviate from the marked course.
- The organizing company is insured for Civil Liability for this hike and assisted by teams of first-aid workers.
- Everyone should have their own cup. There won't be any on the course. Sale of cups at the start for € 1.
![La marche nocturne Roanne Thiers dans les départements de la Loire et du Puy de Dôme]()
© Guillaume Masseron / RT ![La marche nocturne Roanne Thiers dans les départements de la Loire et du Puy de Dôme]()
© Guillaume Masseron / RT ![La marche nocturne Roanne Thiers dans les départements de la Loire et du Puy de Dôme]()
© Guillaume Masseron / RT
The Roanne Thiers Walk in 5 key words
The start
The event takes place once in the Roanne-Thiers direction and once in the Thiers-Roanne direction. The departure city therefore changes every year!
The participants are mainly from the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, but for the past few years have come from all over France and even from abroad. They arrive by train, by car, motorbike or even by bicycle! Carpooling is often encouraged and a bus service is associated with the event to reach, in particular, the start.
Recognized as a night walk, the departure takes place at midnight on the night from Saturday to Sunday.
Career
The route of the walk is 57 kilometers and crosses the famous massif of mounts of the Madeleine. THE Montagnard Group of Roannais this year offers 2 circuits of different distance:
- Thiers-Roanne route of 57 kilometers,
- Thiers-Saint-Just-en-Chevalet route of 32 kilometres.
Conviviality
Despite the difficulty of the test, this hike is meant to be convivial! It is above all a walk and not a race. Without stopwatch and without classification, the pace is free.
The walkers stick together, encourage each other and warm up around a campfire. And it is this convivial spirit that the organizing association wants to perpetuate each year by offering services appreciated by all.
Prep time
This 57-kilometer walk cannot be improvised! Few unprepared participants can finish the course. In addition to regular preparation and good physical shape, it is essential to have good equipment: hiking boots, yellow vest, headlamp, route map, etc.
Organization
The event is supported by the Groupe Montagnard du Roannais association and its 115 volunteers. These enthusiasts are spread out on site where everyone knows their position and their missions: supplies, carpooling, facilities, participant information, etc.
For the little anecdote, the races for walking represent:
- 100 kg of fruit jellies,
- 4500 madeleines,
- 4500 cereal bars,
- 300 chocolate bars,
- 435 slices of ham,
- 4500 bottles of 50cl,
- 510 cheeses.
How to participate in the Roanne Thiers march?
Do you want to take on the personal challenge of walking 57 kilometers or 32 kilometers at night? Registration can be done online or on site until the time of departure! In a group or alone, do not hesitate to participate in this legendary and friendly hike!
TOURIST INFORMATION
Frederique's opinion
The Roanne-Thiers walk has always fascinated me… How do I find the courage to cover 57 kilometers at night in December? I admit I said to myself: “me, never! And yet… I had to make a bet between friends to dare to take up the challenge. If you want to know more, I invite you to read my article Marche Roanne-Thiers, why not you?
