Saturday 12th - Sunday 13th September 2009 -
CéretLa Ronde Cérétane - Céret marathon
Céret throbs with life throughout this sporting weekend, with correfocs, pasta evening and fireworks on Saturday followed by the internationally renowned Ronde Céretane on Sunday.
Live music accompanies the departure of the competitors in ’la Ronde Céretane’ as they set off under the plane trees in the Avenue d’Espagne. International athletes, runners in fancy dress, different nationalities all come together in September to share the pleasure and the passion of this challenging marathon.
Starting off with a 2.5km trot around the town and old Céret, the route becomes progressively steeper as it takes competitors out into the countryside towards its highest point on the Col de Bousseils (4.5km). A terraced track then takes runners through the vineyards with the mountains to the west and the Med to the east.
The course carries on downhill, through the forest and back into the centre of Céret (11.5km and the first ’ronde’ is over). The runners set off again on the same course which this time ends at the winner’s line where arrivals are greeted with music and festival atmosphere.
All along the course, the organisers arrange stands with various beverages - jus de pomme du verger, Sangria flamenco, grappe des Côtes du Roussillon, Porro de Muscat........, and a chance to taste local fruits. ( alcohol recommended for the spectators, not the competitors!)
There are also BBQ stalls and live music all along the course.
Different races of 20km, (depart 9h30) 6km (depart 9h30) and children’s race (depart 11h15)
Programme 2009)
Saturday
Exhibition - Office de Tourisme - photos from past marathons
9h - 13h - Mediterranean market in the streets of old Céret
10h - 19h registration and pick up bibs from salle de la Capelleta
10h30 - Presentation of *terroir - **’œnologie’ initiation in conjunction with local wine cellars. Meet in front of the OT
13h30- 16h Walk ’ patrimoine, terroir et vignoble’ in the footsteps of the pilgrims to the Ermitage Saint Ferréol,
19h30 - Pasta Catalane (a pasta meal) with variety of dance and music - Place des Tilleuls
22ho0 - "Ambiance café" - théatre de verdure: café atmosphere with live music
More info: Tel:04 68 87 00 53
*terroir - a group of vineyards (or even vines) from the same region, belonging to a specific appellation, and sharing the same type of soil, weather conditions, grapes and wine making savoir-faire, which contribute to give its specific personality to the wine.
**œnologie - the study of wine
Sunday
7h - 9h - pick up bibs from salle de la Capelleta
From 8h - departure of the races
11h - departure of the children’s race (Avenue d’Espagne, Stade de Rugby Fondecave)
12h30 - prize presentation (salle de l’union)
13h30 - lunch place de la Liberté with Bandas and bodéga (réservation) served on a special" Ronde Cérétane" ceramic plate which you get to keep!
17h - 19h sardanes place Pablo Picasso, with "Cobla" and traditional musical instruments
For details, including application form and marathon weekend package, visit
http://www.rondeceretane.com
