Paris 2024 marathon route revealed: A challenging race through history and incredible monuments

The route for the Paris 2024 marathon was revealed on Wednesday 5 October in an event at the Paris City Hall (Hotel de Ville). The event was attended by the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, President of Paris 2024, Tony Estanguet and former marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe.

The 42.195km Olympic marathon route will pass by many of the most iconic monuments in the French capital. Beginning at the Hotel de Ville (City Hall) and ending at Les Invalides, it will visit well-known sites such as the Opéra Garnier, Place Vendôme, Jardin des Tuileries, Pyramides du Louvre, Place de la Concorde, Grand Palais, Jardins du Trocadéro, Château de Versailles, Tour Eiffel, and more.

Many of the sites on the marathon course are Olympic venues. BMX freestyle, Breaking, skateboarding, and Basketball 3x3 will take place in the Place de Concorde, modern pentathlon and equestrian in the Château de Versailles, the archery competition at Les Invalides while beach volleyball is scheduled to take place under the Eiffel Tower.

Some 7,000 spectators will be able to purchase a ticket for 24 Euros (24 US dollars) to watch the end of the race from a stand close to the finish line, while many other fans are expected to line the streets to watch the rest of the athletics road race for free.

Visit here for more information on tickets.

READ MORE: Eliud Kipchoge breaks the world record at the 2022 Berlin marathon

Women's rights celebrated in historic marathon

“The athletes, the thousands of spectators and millions of television viewers will experience a special line-up of iconic sites, from France’s capital to Versailles, through the emblematic landscapes of Ile-de-France. In this exceptional setting, the athletes will also take on a sporting challenge of unprecedented difficulty thanks to a tough course with significant climbs,” Tony Estanguet said of the marathon.

While the race will undoubtedly be a pleasure to watch, there is also historic importance to this Olympic marathon. The route has been inspired by “la marche des femmes” (the Women’s March on Versailles), when on 5 and 6 October 1789 a group of women walked from the Paris City Hall to Versailles and forcibly took the king to les Tuileries. Thanks to pressure from this group of women, King Louis XVI ratified the famous Universal Declaration of Rights of Man and of the Citizen just months after the French Revolution.

French marathon runner Mélody Julien expressed how excited she is about the route and the meaning behind it - more so because for the first time since the women’s marathon was introduced at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 the order in which the races will take place has changed, with the men’s race taking place first on Saturday 10 August at 8am CET and the women’s race the following day on Sunday 11 August at 8am CET.

"We wanted to reverse the order in an ambition to more gender equality and bring women to the fore for the first time. So the Women's marathon will enjoy a major visibility on 11 August to cap off the athletics program," said Estanguet.

“A monumental physical and sporting challenge, and a fitting tribute to the women who changed history: this Marathon will be a day to remember, and from the bottom of my heart, I hope to be part of it!” said Julien.

READ MORE: Watch the eight most iconic Olympic marathons on video

A challenging route seeped in history

As pointed out by Julien, the route will certainly be a challenge. The highest point will reach 183m at the 20.3km mark, while the largest upward slope will be +13,5% and the largest downward slope -13,4%. The overall elevation from start to finish will be 438 metres.

“With its unprecedented course, the Paris 2024 Marathon represents great sporting challenge for the athletes, in a spectacular setting. This race, more unpredictable than ever, promises to be mythical!” added Paula Radcliffe, the former marathon world record holder.

Some of the key moments in the marathon include the point between 15km and 17.8km where there will be a long climb as the marathon travels from Sèvres to Ville d’Avray. Another climb between 19.7km and 20.3km will be followed by a descent with a 6% decline that continues until the 27.5km point of the race.

Between 28.5km and 29km another climb with a maximum +13.5% incline will be followed by another long descent between 29.2km and 32.5km with declines between 3% and 13.4%.

None of this, however, is enough to worry double men's Olympic champion and world record holder Eliud Kipchoge, who said:

"Beyond a doubt, the Paris 2024 marathon will have something special about it. To perform in such an impressive setting, in a place so charged with history and symbolism, will be a unique experience. I could not ask for a more perfect race for the Games."

READ MORE: Full list of Olympic marathon champions

A marathon for everyone

In addition to the Olympic marathons, it was confirmed that over 40,000 members of the public will be given the opportunity to run in the "Paris 2024 Marathon Pour Tous" mass running events. As part of this announcement, Paris 2024 organisers revealed details about how people can earn entry for the public marathon (42.195km) and 10km run, both of which will take place on the same route as the Olympic marathons.