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Corsica : visit and discover the island of Beauty

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Corsica

Corsica is not called the island of beauty by chance: to know it is to love it. Its wild nature, the blue sea, the fine sand of its beaches and its rich historical heritage make it a complete travel destination. From north to south, from east to west, discover the hidden jewels of this island where beauty and sweetness of life are the key words. Perched citadels or typical villages, ancient fountains or waterfalls, old olive mills and country houses, there is so much to see and experience in Corsica. Visiting and discovering the island of beauty allows you to see a diversity of landscapes, not only because it offers different types of natural environments, but also because each geographical area has its own history, culture and tradition. Are you planning a stay on the island? Let’s go together to discover Corsica.

The culture and heritage of Corsica

Corsica is the second largest island in the Mediterranean. It is located north of the Italian island of Sicily and south of the French mainland. The culture and heritage of Corsica are rich and very different from what we know in mainland France. Corsica has hosted many civilizations throughout history. Corsica was occupied very early: there are archaeological sites that date back several millennia and attest to an ancient civilization on the island of beauty. Between the 5th and 11th centuries, Corsica was regularly attacked, invaded and plundered by the Ostrogoths and pirates, many of whom sailed the seas. The Corsican flag (the Moor’s head) is the symbol of this fight against the invader. From the 11th century to the 13th, the Pisans occupied Corsica, succeeded by the Genoese between the 13th and 18th centuries. These centuries of occupation were at the origin of the construction of the architectural heritage that we know today.

Corsica has long claimed its independence from the onslaught of France, but will only really have been under Pascal Paoli between 1755 and 1769. The Versailles agreements (1768) between Genoa and France make Corsica come back under the yoke French. In 1769, Napoleon Bonaparte was born on the island (Ajaccio) and despite his love for Corsica, he worked for his belonging to the kingdom of France. Corsica was invaded by the Germans and the Italians during the Second World War, but will be the first area of France to be liberated in the year 1943. The monuments erected in Corsica throughout history are important marks of its past: archaeological site of Filitosa, citadels of Calvi and Bastia, watchtowers and buildings monks bear witness to a rich and prestigious heritage. But, Corsican heritage and culture is also a language, stories and songs , ancestral cultural and cooking practices passed down from generation to generation.

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Corsican gastronomy

Corsica is famous all over the world for the finesse and unique flavors of its gastronomy. Here are 10 dishes that you will only find on the island of beauty:

  1. Brocciu: this is a sheep or goat cheese, creamy and fresh, widely used in Corsican cuisine. We can mention cannelloni with brocciu, fritters, stuffed vegetables, omelets and pies with brocciu and even some pastries.
  2. Figatellu: it is one of the most famous Corsican sausages. It is a liver sausage, mixed with herbs, meat and pork fat that can be eaten cold or hot.
  3. The coppa: it is smoked and dried pork loin which is an obligatory part of the Corsican charcuterie platters and which can also be used in cooking.
  4. The fiadone: it is a dessert made with brocciu, sugar, eggs, lemon and liqueur.
  5. Les frappes: these are small Corsican doughnuts that are served on special occasions (baptisms, weddings or family celebrations).
  6. The canistrelli: it is a dry cookie (nature, lemon, almond, aniseed or raisins) that we taste with coffee.
  7. The chestnut flour: it is used as a base for many sweet or savory preparations and is even governed by a PDO.
  8. The Corsican soup: it could be compared to a minestrone soup, the vegetables are not mixed, there are white beans and a remainder of cold cuts is used to conceive the broth.
  9. Wild boar terrine: in Corsica, most men hunt. This is why game terrines, especially wild boar terrines, are legion.
  10. Corsican wine and beer: the appellations Patrimonio, Fumiccicoli or Clos Capitoro are nice discoveries when you like wine. As far as beer is concerned, Pietra is the most famous beer made from chestnut flour.

Activities in Corsica

Corsica offering varied geographical areas, many activities are possible. Among them, water activities such as jet skiing, canyoning, rafting, diving, kayaking, paddle, etc. Sports activities such as parachuting, paragliding, quad biking, buggy, via ferrata, zip line, climbing, etc. Excursions and hikes by boat, bike or on foot (GR20). Between sea, mountains and maquis, nothing is impossible on the island of beauty.

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The must-see places in Corsica

Corsica is a territory with a thousand faces. To help you prepare for your trip, here are the essential places to visit depending on the area where you plan to go:

North of Corsica

Haute-Corse is wild and authentic, here is what you absolutely must visit:

  • The town of Calvi, incredibly charming and steeped in history;
  • The Parc de Saleccia;
  • The Restonica and Spelunca gorges, for lovers of nature and exceptional panoramas;
  • The Costa Verde and its secrets;
  • The Patrimonio vineyard, a gem protected by an AOC;
  • The Nino Lake and its large expanses of green grass called “ pozzines ” where we come across pigs and cows roaming free;
  • The Cap Corse which brings together everything that makes Corsican charm: perched villages, sumptuous beaches, ancient architecture, etc.
  • The archaeological site of Aleria and its remains;
  • The Desert des Agriates and its rich fauna and flora;
  • San Antonio, one of the oldest villages in Corsica.

South of Corsica

Here is what you absolutely must see in southern Corsica:

  • The city of Bonifacio and its white cliffs;
  • The Lavezzi Islands;
  • The needles of Bavella;
  • The Scandola Nature Reserve;
  • The creeks of Piana;
  • The bloodthirsty islands;
  • The village of Cargese.

The most beautiful beaches in Corsica

No need to go to the Seychelles to find white sand and crystal clear water, here are the most beautiful beaches in Corsica:

  • Palombaggia beach;
  • Santa Giulia beach;
  • Rondinara beach;
  • Ficajola beach in the creeks of Piana;
  • Ostriconi beach;
  • Cap de Fino beach;
  • Nonza beach;
  • Calvi beach;
  • The Lavezzi Islands.

Corte and the center of the Island of Beauty

Here are the places to visit if you stay in Corte, in the center of the island of beauty:

  • The citadel of Corte ;
  • The belvedere of Corte ;
  • The Museum of Corsica ;
  • The upper town ;
  • The Paoli course ;
  • The Restonica Gorge ;
  • The Punta Alta;
  • The Ascu region.

The mountain range of Corsica

The Corsican mountain range consists of 7 massifs from north to south of the island:

  • The Monte Stella massif;
  • The Tenda massif and Monte Astu;
  • The Monte Cinto massif;
  • The Monte San Petrone massif;
  • The Monte Rotondo massif;
  • The Monte Renoso massif;
  • The Monte Incudine massif.
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Le Campoloro: your Corsican campsite to discover the Island of Beauty

No more rustic conditions: today camping in Northern Corsica offers quality services to provide you with comfort like at home and in the heart of nature. In our campsite, you have the choice of pitches or accommodation (cottages, chalets, bungalows) skillfully scattered in a wooded park to maintain your privacy without sacrificing conviviality.

Located by the sea, our campsite allows you to alternatively enjoy the shade of the oaks and the pleasures of the beach, between tanning and swimming. Those early in the morning enjoy a pretty sunrise which always portends beautiful days spent with family or friends.

Our campsite has a aquatic park and its famous slides that will delight everyone. The little ones enjoy swimming pools with appropriate depths in complete safety. The most motivated redraw their silhouette in a fully equipped gym or take part in various water sports, aquagym or beach volleyball.