Corsica

Things to do in Corsica

Mediterranean Atmosphere

In an outstandingly protected setting, the seaside alternates creeks and long sandy beaches, while the half-mountain villages offer an intimate face of Corsica.

The tourist wealth of this veritable miniature continent lies undeniably in its natural heritage. In this sense, Corsica differs from the idea one has of the Mediterranean islands. In fact, no other island is as green as Corsica: from its Laricio pine forests and emerald-green mountain lakes, to its fragrant scrub, cooling high mountain pastures and wine-growing lands. If Corsica is an “emerald isle”, it owes it to its unique topography in the Mediterranean: this “mountain in the sea” is well deserving of its nickname, with 120 peaks above an altitude of 2 000 m, which remain snow-capped until the spring. The 25 watercourses that flow through it make the island the best irrigated in the Mediterranean Basin. To top it all, Corsica offers the luxury of 1 000 km of the richest, most varied coastline. With a "Parc Naturel Régional" that covers two-thirds of its surface area, Corsica is a well-preserved island divided between nature reserves and listed sites.

HISTORY

A veritable miniature continent, Corsica is a mosaic of natural landscapes that are as varied as they are contrasting. With high-altitude lakes bordered with pines, fine sandy creeks with crystal-clear waters, porphyry-red or chalk-white cliffs, granite canyons and impenetrable maquis [scrub], in Corsica it is possible to “see the world” in just a few miles… Corsica is the greenest, best-preserved, best-irrigated, most mountainous and most varied of the Mediterranean islands; the Ancient Greeks had already found a name that summed it up: Kallisté, “the most beautiful”.

MANY FACES OF THE SEA

With its more than 1 000 km of coastline that are home to crystal-clear waters, vast fine sandy beaches, small deserted creeks and granite cliffs inhabited by sea birds, Corsica offers a variety of marine landscapes that is unique in the Mediterranean. Even in the height of summer, it is not hard to find a quite little creek in which to dive, fish or simply swim. With water temperatures suitable for bathing between May (19°C) and October (20°C), and reaching 24°C in July and August, Corsica is the dream setting for practising all kinds of water sports: sea kayaking, funboarding, competitive and liveaboard sailing, water skiing, diving, surfing and jet skiing.

HERITAGE, CULTURE AND TRADITIONS

Corsica’s uniqueness, all that makes it an island that is one of a kind in the Mediterranean, also has to do with its heritage, a true reflection of its complex history. This history is apparent in the anthropomorphic menhirs of Filitosa and the Castelli of Alta Rocca, and in the Genoese citadels on the coast, the churches of Castagniccia with their rich Baroque décors and also in the island’s ancient remains.

Corsica’s living culture, perpetuated by centuries of customs and traditions, finds its full expression in music, speech and craftwork. This means that the countless cultural events and rural fairs that take place become the showcase for a culture, way of life and traditional crafts that all but died out with the society of which they formed a part.

NATURE

The island offers visitors all the very best of nature: rich fauna, the heady scents of its diverse flora, including numbers of endemic species, as well as the captivating colours of its sites. To maintain this balance, the "Parc Naturel Régional de Corse", which stretches over 3 500 km² of both land and sea, is a permanent site for preservation activities carried out by its officers. Five Réserves Naturelles and one Parc Marin International have been created for the protection of unique and fragile flora and fauna. Another mission entrusted to the officers of the Corsican Regional Natural Park is to maintain the footpaths, which offer visitors an incomparable view of Corsican nature. Paths such as Da Mare a Mare (‘from sea to sea’, i.e. from west to east), Tra Mare e Monti (‘across sea and mountain: from north to south) and the famous GR20 (one of the most difficult and spectacular walks in Europe) are unforgettable ways to discover Corsican nature.

Things to do in Corsica

Mediterranean Atmosphere

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