Corte Holidays

The heart and soul of mountain Corsica
Corte is ideally placed for exploring northern Corsica and avoiding the summer resort crowds. Holidays in Corte feature a highly atmospheric, historic, fortified town in the very heart of the astonishing Corsican interior. Being the spiritual heart of Corsica and the island’s only university town, Corte offers a superb insight into Corsican culture and enjoys an agreeably lively atmosphere during term time. But it is the town’s stunning location that makes Corte holidays so memorable: tumbling down the side of a steep crag and surrounded by extraordinary rugged landscapes and dramatic peaks. For a beach near Corte, most visitors take the 40 minute drive to the beaches of Balagne.

Atmospheric old town
Corte holidays focus on the atmospheric upper town with its narrow cobbled lanes and attractive squares, and the enjoyable town centre with its charming cafes, bars and restaurants. All holidays should include a look at the outstanding museum and the imposing citadel that tops the town.

Astonishing scenery
Corte holidays offer a wonderfully atmospheric base for walking and cycling holidays. Many walking holidays in Corsica pass through this strategic spot. No walking holiday in Corte can possible take in all the available routes in a single visit. There are superb waymarked trails among beautiful valleys, wild gorges and massive craggy peaks. Highlights include the gorges of Restonica and Tavignano. For non-walkers, Nearby via spectacular roads are traditional villages like Calaccucia and Evisa, gentle strolls in the Vizzavona forest, beauty spots like the waterfall of Voiled de la Mariee, and the superb scenery of the Asco Valley, the Castagniccia and the Balagne. Corte also offers tennis, swimming, challenging climbing and rewarding horse riding. All holidays to Corte should also include a trip on the spectacular mountain train to Ajaccio, Calvi or Bastia.

Weather in Corte

Many people choose to holiday in Corte for its fantastic scenery and hiking trails for all abilities. Corsica’s temperatures vary according to altitude, so the GR20 hiking route, as an example, is actually quite dangerous between November and May because of mountain snow, and from February to April should only be attempted by skilled cross-country skiers. Western winds prevail all year long. That said, you’re not at the highest peaks here, so temperatures in Corte itself average between 10°C to 16°C from November to April, before proper warmth returns to the Corsican hills. Despite those westerly winds, the summer weather in Corte has a real holiday feel to it. July and August are hottest, and the town more filled with tourists, but June, September and October see more comfortable temperatures. If you spend some of your Corsica holiday hiking, you’ll certainly want to take plenty of water and doubtless take a dip in some of the freshwater pools you’ll encounter. If you intend to sample beach life during your trip to Corte by heading to one of the coastal holiday resort towns, then you’ll find weather to match any other holiday destination in the Med, with average temperatures during peak season of around 27°C.