Lausanne Marathon

The Lausanne Marathon is widely regarded as one of Europe's most scenic races, running along the shores of Lake Geneva with the snow-capped Swiss Alps as a backdrop. All races start from Place de Milan in Lausanne, the Olympic Capital and home of the International Olympic Committee. The out-and-back marathon course traces the lakeshore toward La Tour-de-Peilz and the Vevey area, passing the UNESCO World Heritage Lavaux vineyard terraces, one of Switzerland's most iconic landscapes, before doubling back to Lausanne. Ancient stone-walled terraces cascade down steep hillsides to the lake, and on a clear October morning the Alps reflect in the water. Runners get the lake-and-Alps panorama twice, on the way out and on the way back. Race day also offers a half marathon, a 10K and 10 km walking and Nordic walking events, and the field fills up well before race weekend. The lakeside profile stays relatively runnable despite roughly 300 meters of total elevation gain, and cool October temperatures of 6-14°C suit strong performances.