Page 292 - Lonely Planet France’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

15 minutes, around the Golfe de square shaded by rare Ombu
Calvi, to Calvi. The best spot to trees with gnarled and knotted
park is at the top of town, across trunks, and sweet honey-
from the entrance to the citadel. producing flowers. BRUNO DE HOGUES / GETTY IMAGES ©

4 Calvi 5 Pointe de la
Basking between the Revellata
fiery orange bastions of Within seconds of leav-
its 15th-century citadel ing town, you’re deep
and the glittering waters in the hot sun-baked
of a moon-shaped bay, maquis (herbal scrub-
Calvi feels closer to the land), with a low stone
chichi sophistication of wall being the only
a French Riviera resort separator between white-
than a historic Corsican knuckled passenger
port. Palatial yachts and and green drop down
private cruisers jostle for to emerald water below.
space along its harbour- After 4km the magnifi-
side, while high above cent cape of Pointe de la
the quay the watchtow- Ravelleta – the nearest
ers and battlements Corsican point to the
of the town’s Genoese French mainland – pops
stronghold stand guard, into view, with a toy-like
proffering sweeping white lighthouse at its
views inland to Monte tip and dusty walking
Cinto (2706m). trails zigzagging between
Set atop a lofty the scrub and the ocean.
promontory, Calvi’s Park and indulge in a
massive fortified citadel signposted 1.5km hike to
has fended off everyone Chapelle Notre Dame de
PROVENCE & SOUTHEAST FRANCE 26 CORSICAN COAST CRuISER
down the centuries, from la Serra or a 20-minute
Franco-Turkish raiders to sea-bound stroll for lunch
Anglo-Corsican armies. at Mar A Beach (%06 33
Wraparound views from 62 17 64; Plage de l’Alga; mains
its five feisty bastions €12-25; hrestaurant noon-
certainly have the wow- 4pm May-Oct, bar noon-7pm
factor, and Chez Tao (www. May-Oct), a Robinson
cheztao.com; rue St-Antoine; Crusoe–style beach hut in
h6pm-5am Jun-Sep), a wild- a turquoise-water creek.
ly hip and lavish music
bar around since 1935, is The Drive » Continue south
the spot to lap them up, on the D81B. After the champ
de tir (military shooting range),
cocktail in hand.
savour a brief reprieve from
54 p294 the big coastal views as the
road ducks inland between
The Drive » Across from the the mountainous 703m hulk
citadel, pick up the coastal road of Capu di a Veta and fields of
D81B signposted ‘Rte de Porto – grazing sheep. At the first road
Bord de Mer’. Before driving fork, 35km south of Calvi, bear
off, don’t miss the old shabby right along the D81 signposted

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