France Travel Archives | The Best Tips From The Locals

Corsica is often imagined as a Mediterranean island of glamorous beaches and turquoise coves, but beyond the coastline lies a far wilder and more authentic side of the island. Hidden among dramatic mountains, ancient forests, forgotten monasteries, and remote hilltop ruins are places that many visitors never discover. From secret swimming spots in deep gorges to prehistoric ruins overlooking the sea, these hidden gems in Corsica reveal the island's rugged beauty, fascinating history, and adventurous spirit. Discover a hidden ravine of wild beauty If you thought that Corsica is all about pretty, sunny, and (unfortunately) crowded beaches, you couldn’t be more wrong. The island is actually covered in greenery, offering some amazing sights, like the Gorges of Spelunca. The path leading to the Gorges is steep, narrow, and winding, and it can be a bit tiring if you are not an experienced trekker, but once you reach your destination, you’ll forget all about it, as the dramatic landscapes of Corsica unwind in front of your eyes. On your way, you’ll even notice an old, medieval, forgotten Genoan bridge in the middle of the forest, miles away from the nearest settlement. Finally, who said you need to be on the beach if you want to go for a swim? During the spring and summer months, you can even swim in the Spelunca river, far away from Corsica’s crowded beaches! The trek to the Gorges de Spelunca starts at the village of Ota. For a peaceful mountain escape near Ota, honeymooners will love staying at Hôtel Bella Vista in Porto for its scenic valley views and easy access to the gorge trails. Visit a lesser-known Notre Dame If you’re ever passing by the small, charming town of Propriano, Eglise Notre Dame de Misericorde is one place you don’t want to miss. There’s a church on the top of the hill overlooking the city, and giving a beautiful view that only a few other places in Corsica can compete with. The church is not the Notre Dame of Paris, but it sure is worth visiting. It’s a great chance to add some culture to your trip and see a typical Corsican church from the 19th century that looks pretty ordinary on the outside but hides a real surprise inside. The interior of the Notre Dame de Misericorde consists of simple yet appealing decor and some very interesting statues. If you can, also visit for Easter, as this church is one of only a few in France that still carries out an old tradition in which the reverend takes the cross across the village and gives people the opportunity to redeem for their sins. It’s quite a fascinating and rare tradition. A romantic stay at Hôtel Sampiero Corso in Propriano makes a perfect base for exploring the town’s charming waterfront and historic church. Get way off the beaten track at Ancien Ermitage de la Trinité Located on a rocky hill overlooking the small town of Bonifacio, the Ancien Ermitage de la Trinite is one of the oldest religious sites in Corsica- it dates back to the 13th century. The hermitage was restored in the 19th century, but today it seems like it has been abandoned, and it’s rarely open. However, even if you don’t get the chance to go inside, you can still experience some of the best views in Corsica, from where you can see almost half of Corsica’s coastline and even a part of the Sardinian coastline. The best part is that tourists have yet to discover this place. And if you are feeling adventurous, you can keep walking to the old lighthouse of Cape Feno and experience the best of Corsica’s “wild coast”. However, if you decide to do this, make sure you plan your time properly because it’s a long walk, and I think you wouldn’t want to be stuck in the middle of nowhere after nightfall. Visitors looking for dramatic coastal scenery should stay at Hôtel Version Maquis Citadelle near Bonifacio for its quiet luxury and panoramic views. See a different side of Corsica at Barrage de l'Ospedale If you visit this place, you might think you somehow got teleported into the Alps of Switzerland, but don’t worry- you didn’t, and you’re still in Corsica, as surprising as that might sound. Needless to say, if you want to go hiking and exploring the remote forests of Corsica, this is one of the best places to do that. However, this route remains off the beaten track because most people never leave the beaches, and even the ones that do, for some reason, don’t know about this place. Perhaps, Corsicans would like to keep this peaceful getaway for themselves- and I couldn’t blame them. To make things even better, the strikingly blue pond is surrounded by lush forests, and it’s one of only a few areas in Corsica that gets fog multiple times a year, and when that happens, the scenery becomes even more spectacular… Additionally, the best way to start the trek is at the entrance of the village of L’Ospedale. Les Bergeries de Palombaggia near Porto-Vecchio offers a peaceful forest-and-mountain atmosphere ideal after a day exploring L’Ospedale. Be different: visit a museum in Corsica With all the stunning nature and beautiful sandy beaches, very few people indulge in cultural activities like visiting a museum and learning a few new things about Corsica’s history. How did Corsica even come into existence? How did it become the (by far) most mountainous island in the Mediterranean? What was life in Corsica like in the Neolithic era? If you want to get answers to these and a lot of other questions you might have about Corsica, definitely head to the Museum of Prehistory in Sartene. Some of the most interesting things to see in this museum include jewelry dating back to the Iron Age, 5,000-year-old basket artifacts, and ancient menhirs. Located in the small hill village of Sartene, most people don’t even know that a museum with prehistoric exhibits that date back 6,000 years exists on the island. I would strongly recommend you take some time to visit this fascinating, unfrequented museum. Additional: if given the chance, visit on the first Sunday of the month- the entrance is free for everyone. Discover a hidden ancient site Hidden in the forest of Piedicroce, you can find Couvent Saint-Francois d'Orezza, a 15th-century crumbling monastery that appears to be stuck in time. Many tourists don’t know about it nowadays because it appears to have been forgotten by the island’s local authorities, but this place has a tremendous part in Corsica’s history. This is where Erasmo Orticoni, one of the main figures of the Corsican revolutionary movement against the Republic of Genoa, gathered all Corsican political figures and discussed the independence of Corsica. To put it simply, this ancient site of ruins is where the idea for an independent state of Corsica was born. Because of its remote location and the fact that you have to take a 15-minute walk through the forest from the main road, you won’t find a lot of people around. Unfortunately, the site is completely abandoned today, and no one is taking care of it; hence, it’s in a relatively bad condition, so watch your step while you’re roaming around. For a remote mountain retreat, Casa Surgente in Piedicroce offers a tranquil stay surrounded by forested landscapes. Check out a seemingly ordinary church Hidden in the heights of Bastia, this seemingly ordinary baroque church, not known even among locals, houses an extremely rare “Holy staircase” (Scala Santa). These stairs are one of only 10 replicas of the stairs Jesus walked on when he ascended in the Praetorium of Jerusalem before being tortured in the prisons of Pontius Pilate. This replica was a gift of gratitude to the church by Pope Pius VII for the local villagers who opposed Napoleon’s forces. It’s believed that if you kneel in front of the stairs in a true spirit of contrition, all of your sins will be forgiven. The staircase sure makes the interior fascinating and even breathtaking, but on the outside, this 16th-century church looks rather ordinary, and it fits seamlessly in the surroundings, so it’s very easy to miss it even if you’re passing by in the area. Perhaps that’s why a lot of tourists don’t know about it. Hôtel des Gouverneurs in Bastia combines historic charm with beautiful harbor views close to the old town. Discover Corsica's hidden natural oasis The Aitone Forest is the perfect getaway place and one of only a few that remains relatively unfrequented, even during the high season. It’s Corsica’s very own hidden oasis, filled with Pinus Nigra trees, wild boars, and the very rare Corsican nuthatch, a tiny, passerine bird that can only be found in the lush forests of Corsica. The forest also hides the 95-meter-tall Endinosa waterfall, one of the largest ones in Corsica. You can trek to the waterfall, and on the way, you’ll also find several small basins across the forest, with cold waters where you can hide from the scorching Corsican sun, away from the island’s popular, crowded beaches. The Aitone Forest is one of the finest examples of Corsica’s wild nature and is perfect for people who want to get off the beaten track and reconnect with nature. Additional tip: the most common starting point for this trek is the Evisa Village. Nature lovers should stay at Aitone Hôtel in Évisa, perfectly located for hiking and waterfall adventures in the forest. Try to find a gorgeous hidden lake Located at an elevation of 1930 m, the hike to Lake Capitellu is one of the most difficult hikes on Corsica and proof that the island has something in store for everyone, including hiking enthusiasts. If you plan to visit, note that you should bring comfortable shoes because most of the trail consists of pebble-covered paths. The lake is the fourth largest in Corsica and the deepest one on the island. A part of the trek gets busy in the high season because the same trek passes Lake Melo on the way, which is a lot more popular among tourists. If you decide to be one of those who want to get off the beaten track and walk all the way up to Lake Capitellu, make sure to bring some warm clothes. Since the lake is located at an elevation of almost 2000 meters, the temperature up there gets quite cold, and the lake is actually completely frozen for 7-8 months of the year. Additional tip: cars aren’t allowed after the car park near the restaurant Bergeries de Grotelle, and this is the point where most people start the trek. Hôtel Si Mea in Corte is an excellent base for hikers preparing to explore Corsica’s dramatic alpine lakes. Get lost in Corsica's sheer mountains Monte Renoso might not be as popular as the highest peak in Corsica, Monte Cinto and Monte Rotondo, but I would say it gives the best view of the island. The peak of Monte Renoso is located in Central Corsica, and it splits the island into two (almost) equal parts, offering a beautiful 360-degree panoramic view of the whole island. On the way to the top, you’ll come across some spectacular sights like the heart-shaped Lake Bastani- one of the highest lakes in Corsica with an almost unreal green color. Many people think that this is the highlight of the trek and hence, turn back once they reach it, but the real treat is at the top, from where you can see that the lake actually has the shape of a heart… Additional tip: motor vehicles can go all the way to E’ Capanelle and the Ghisoni Ski Resort, and these are the two most usual starting points for this trek. U Campanile in Ghisoni offers a rustic mountain experience close to the island’s best trekking routes. Visit a wild beach known only to locals Located on the eastern tip of the island, the Pinia beach is one of the last beaches that tourists in Corsica have yet to discover. The beach is not easy to find, the road signage isn’t that good, and it’s not even properly marked in Google Maps. Maybe that’s the case because locals love it- and I suppose want to keep it for themselves. The beach is surrounded by a small pine forest, and it’s one of the last wild beaches on the island, without many restaurants, bars, and tourist facilities next to it, except for one small restaurant and a couple of camping sites for the few tourists who will end up discovering one of the best hidden gems in Corsica. For a quiet beach getaway, Hôtel A Casa di Maria Cicilia near Ghisonaccia provides a relaxing countryside atmosphere near the coast. Discover a hidden archipelago next door The Cerbicale Islands have been a protected park since the 1980s, and one of France’s most remote archipelagos. The archipelago consists of four islands and two rocky islets located near the northern shore of Corsica. This part of Corsica has never been inhabited by humans due to the lack of drinking water. However, that doesn’t mean the island doesn’t have a diverse flora and fauna. You can find a lot of sea birds, lizards, falcons, dolphins, and one of the few colonies of little egrets in Europe. The archipelago is also one of the greatest diving spots in France, and it never gets crowded because the authorities limit the number of visitors since the Cerbicale Islands are a protected natural reserve. All islands are very small and can easily be visited in a day trip by renting a boat from Porto Vechhio, but the most interesting one is probably the biggest one- Île Piana. Casa Santini x Roc Seven in Porto-Vecchio is perfect for couples planning boat trips to the Cerbicale Islands. Visit Cardo's forgotten old ice houses Cardo is an old medieval village near Bastia whose exact origin has been lost in the mists of time. This old village has historically been on the crossroad of Genoan and Roman influence and reached its most glorious days during the 15th century, and many people don’t know this, but the port of Cardo is the actual origin of the city of Bastia. Today, the village is pretty remote as it’s pretty far from all of Corsica’s frequented roads, and very few people visit it. However, this small medieval village has a hidden secret in the narrow pathways that lead outside of the village. Most people who actually walk this route are surprised to see a couple of very old, well-preserved ice houses that date back to the 15th and 18th centuries, respectively. This is one of the most interesting sights in Corsica, as this part of the island is located close to the shore and quite far from the high, snowy mountains, which raises the question of who built these ice houses and why. Nevertheless, it’s a site worth visiting, especially if you like trekking and getting off the beaten track. Hôtel Alivi near Bastia offers peaceful sea views while remaining close to the historic villages around Cardo. Check Corsica's hidden prehistoric site Last but not least, we conclude this guide to hidden gems in Corsica with Porto Vecchio, which has become one of Corsica’s most touristy parts over the years, but fortunately, there are still a few places in this part of the island that most tourists don’t know about. One of them is the Ruins of Castellu d'Araghju, located on a rocky hill roughly five kilometers away from the Gulf of Porto-Vecchio. The place can be reached by taking a taxi to the City Government Office and walking up the hill. This fascinating ancient site dates back to the Bronze Age (2nd millennium BC), and you don’t need to pay an admission fee to visit the site. It seems like there’s not even a guard or anyone who’s taking care of the maintenance, and it’s likely that you might be the only person on site. And even if you’re not a fan of old ruins and history, I’m sure you will enjoy the view of the gulf, but shh… Don’t tell anyone else about it! Les Jardins de Mathieu near Porto-Vecchio is a charming countryside stay ideal for exploring Corsica’s prehistoric sites. How did you like this guide to hidden gems in Corsica? Did you ever visit any of these? Do you know of any other hidden gems in Corsica deserving a mention? Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below. Like it? Pin it.

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