The island of beauty offers surprises and views at every turn of the trail, from demanding treks to day-long loops, from must-do’s to off-the-beaten-track itineraries.
If the GR20 is the grail of every hiker, this trek, crossing the island from north to south, is quite tough: 200 km, significant differences in altitude, alpine variants, and via ferrata above the void, but above all high mountain conditions. The game is worth the candle if you are in good physical condition, especially since the route can be split into two sections, north and south, the latter being the easiest. They meet at the Vizavona pass, in the very heart of the island, which gives the opportunity to go and refresh oneself at the delightful cascade des Anglais, where the officers of Queen Victoria’s Indian army used to come to recharge their batteries. Water has also carved the Restonica Gorges, which can be followed from the proud Corte to Monte Rotondo and its high-altitude lakes of Melo and Capitello. Still in Haute Corse, the Bonifatu cirque is worthwhile, reached by taking the path and the monkey bridge of Spamisata. After waiting for a wild sow lying in the middle of a mountain road to finish suckling her babies, head south for Bavella and its breathtaking granite needles. The most experienced will take the climbing routes, others will admire them at sunset. The island can also be discovered from east to west with medium mountain itineraries, the Mare e Monti and the Mare a Mare. The southern one offers the opportunity to get lost in the bewitching forest of Ospedale. At the refuge, after dinner, you may have the chance to hear a polyphonic song. For an immersion in the traditions, there is nothing like a remote and wild land dominated by the 2,709 m2 of Monte Cinto, the Niolu. To be discovered at the summer pasture, from sheepfold to sheepfold, while the fragrant nature offers its flowery perfumes that the men will transform into cheeses. A mountain planted in the sea, Corsica is an island with a thousand faces and multiple flavors, to discover at the pace of the hiker.
Sophie Reyssat