The Grandes Heures Nature festival is back from June 11th to 14th in Besançon: outdoor sports are gaining momentum

The outdoor sports festival Grandes Heures Nature will shake up Besançon from June 11 to 14. The event will feature seven sports competitions including climbing, mountain biking, canoeing, kayaking, and trail running. Last year, 3,351 people participated in the activities, and this year they are hoping to attract 4,000 participants. About 3,250 people have already signed up, surpassing last year’s numbers.

The majority of participants come from the region, but the event is also attracting people from neighboring areas. The festival has been growing steadily since the Covid-19 period, with last year seeing 19,000 attendees and this year aiming for 25,000. The goal is to attract even more visitors from outside the region, including from neighboring countries like Switzerland.

Participants will pass through 19 municipalities around Besançon, compared to 22 last year, to ensure the smooth running of the activities. This year, a new event called “swimrun” has been added, which combines running and swimming in a single race. The organizers hope to make Besançon the national capital of outdoor sports, attracting more tourists and boosting the local economy. Shops and businesses are heavily involved in the event, and efforts are being made to enhance the city’s appeal as a tourist destination.