Corte Things to do
Beautiful Scenery
If natural beauty and breathtaking views are your idea of the perfect getaway, then a holiday in Corte, Corsica, will give you everything you need. Corte, once the capital of Corsica, sits about 50km south-west of popular beach resort Calvi. Given its location on an outcrop above the Tavignano valley, hiking holidays in Corte are tremendously popular. Corte is very scenic.
Historic Sites
The main places of interest in Corte are its fortress, the citadel, and within the citadel the museum of Corsica. Corsica was the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, whose eldest brother Joseph was born in Corte, and the Mediterranean island’s rich history is chronicled here. The cobbled streets of the university town are lined with beautiful architecture; from the Place Gaffori in the centre of the town you can stroll to the Fontaine des Quatre Canons and visit the Church of the Annunciation, before crossing the old Genoese bridge over the river. In the evenings the many bars and restaurants on the main street serve a blend of French and Italian cuisine.
Hiking
Stand on the viewing platform near the citadel and you’ll immediately see why Corte holidays are so popular. Spectacular panoramic views across mountains and valleys demonstrate why hiking holidays in Corte are world renowned. Corte sits midway along the GR20 hiking trail (also known as Fra i Monti), which runs about 200km from north to south. Other hiking trails in Corsica include three Mare a Mare (sea to sea) and a Mare e Monti (sea to mountain) trail. For the amateur hiker or those on a family holiday in Corte, the Gorges de la Restonica to the south of the town offers an easier walk, freshwater pools for bathing and the stunning lakes: Melo and Capitello.
Biking & Horse Riding
Of course there’s always mountain biking or horse riding if you need a change from walking, or you can go canoeing or white water rafting on the Tavignano, the Golo or the Prunelli rivers . A Corte holiday also puts you in the Corsica Natural Parc, where boars, red deer and even wildcats roam, and bearded vultures and golden eagles take wing.
Diving
A Corte holiday might put you on a craggy outcrop above mountainous valleys, but the Corsican coast and its beach holiday potential is no more than 40 or 50km away. The scuba diving centre at Reserve Naturelle des Bouches de Bonifacio serves the most popular beach resort on the island, but there are also great dive sites near Ajaccio, Porto Vecchio, Cargese, St-Florent, and near Calvi a sunken B-17 bomber wreck makes a great dive location for experts.
