Page 290 - Lonely Planet France’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

TRIP HIGHLIGHT
Corsican Coast
26 Cruiser 2 Algajola
This gloriously old-
fashioned, bucket-and-
spade address makes a
great base. Its golden-
Keep both hands firmly on the wheel during this sand beach is one of
high-drama ride along Corsica’s hairpin-laced Corsica’s longest and
loveliest, and budget
west coast. Dangerously distracting views out accommodation options
the window flit from glittering bay and bijou are superb. If your idea of
luxury is drifting off to
beach to sawtooth peak, blazing-red rock and the orchestra of crashing
maquis-cloaked mountain; while the road – waves, and frolicking on
the sand in pyjamas fresh
never far from the dazzling big blue – gives a out of bed at dawn, there
whole new spin to the concept ‘Go Slow’: you is no finer place to stay.
Next morning, jump
won’t average much more than 35km/h for the aboard the trinighellu
duration of the trip. (trembler), aka the
Tramway de la Balagne, a
dinky little seaside train
that trundles along sand-
covered tracks between
8.30pm Oct-May) and watch Île Rousse and Calvi,
1 Île Rousse old men play boules. stopping on request only
Later, take a sunset
Sun-worshippers, stroll past a Genoese at hidden coves and bijou
celebrities and holiday- watchtower and light- beaches en route.
ing yachties create buzz 54 p294
in this busy beach town house to the russet-
coloured rock of Île de
straddling a long, sandy la Pietra, from which The Drive » Continue towards
curve of land backed by the town, founded by Calvi on the coastal T30 and in
mountains and herb- Pascal Paoli in 1758, gets the centre of Lumio, 6km south
of Algajola, turn right following
scented maquis. its colourful name. Sea signs for ‘Plage de l’Arinella’.
Begin the day on Île Twist 2.6km downhill past leafy
Rousse’s central tree- kayaking (%04 95 60 22 walled-garden residences
shaded square, place 55; www.cnir.org; rte du Port; secondaires to the turquoise
Paoli, overlooked by the h9am-6pm Jul & Aug, by water lapping onto Plage de
arrangement Sep-Jun) around
21 classical columns of l’Arinella.
the Greek Temple–styled the promontory and its is-
lets is an outdoor delight.
food market, built TRIP HIGHLIGHT
around 1850. Get lost in 54 p294
the rabbit warren of old- 3 Plage de
town alleys around the The Drive » From the l’Arinella
roundabout at the western end
square, and at noon sip a of town, pick up the T30 towards If there is one crescent of
pre-lunch aperitif on the Calvi; buy fresh fruit for the sand in Corsica you must
terrace of venerable Café journey from the open-air stall not miss, it’s this serene,
des Platanes (place Paoli; signposted ‘Marche Plein Air’ on rock-clad cove with one
h6am-2am Jun-Sep, 7am- the roundabout. of Corsica’s finest beach
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