Page 545 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - France

The Niolo is Corsica’s only
region to still farm live stock
for its economic mainstay.
The main town, Calacuccia,
is suitable for excursions
to Monte Cinto. The nearby
former ski resort of Haut Asco
is best reached by the D147
from Asco, but enthusiasts
can walk from Calacuccia
(8–9 hours). To the south is
the forest of Valdu Niello.

8
Corte
! A6 ⌂ Haute-Corse £ @
Corte’s medieval citadel, housing a museum, n La Citadelle; www.corte-
perched on a vertigo-inducing rocky summit
tourisme.com
In the geographical centre of
Castagniccia (literally “small who live and work in mainland Corsica, Corte was the chosen
chestnut grove”), which most France or Italy. It seems hard capital of the independence
Corsicans agree is the very to believe that during the 17th leader Pasquale Paoli from
heart and kernel of the island. century, when the great chest- 1755 to 1769, and today is the
It was here that independence nut forests intro duced here by seat of the island’s university.
leader Pasquale Paoli was born the Genoese were at the height In the Old Town is the 15th-
in 1725, and where the revolts of their production, this was century citadel, housing the
against Genoa and then France the most prosperous and Musée de la Corse relating
began in earnest in 1729. Alas, populated region in Corsica. traditional Corsican life and
many of the villages in this The D71 from Ponte Leccia anthropology.
beautiful, remote area are all (north of Corte) to the east Corte, exactly halfway along
but empty, their inhabitants winds through Castagniccia, the GR20, the legendary
having joined the 800,000 or and to see the region at 220-km (137-mile) trail from
so Corsicans (almost three leisure will take the best part Calen zana to Conca, is the
times the present population) of a week. Stock up on essen- best base for the nearby
tials first, as there is little in mountains. Don’t miss the
the way of supplies en route. Gorges de la Restonica, 12 km
(7 miles) out of town via the
D623. Above these beautiful
7 gorges keen walkers can
follow a well-marked climb to
The Niolo (Niolu) snow-fed Lac de Melo (60–90
minutes); or Lac de Capitello
! A6 ⌂ Haute-Corse
@ Corte n Rte de Cuccia, 30 minutes further, where
Calacuccia; www.office- snow can still remain in
tourisme-niolu.com early June.
South of Corte, the Forêt
The Niolo extends west from de Vizzavona is crisscrossed
Corte to the Vergio pass and by tumbling, trout-filled
the upper Golo basin, and to streams and pleasant walk ing
the east as far as the Scala di trails (notably the GR20).
Santa Regina. Corsica’s high- A fine refuge from summer
est mountain, the 2,706-m heat, it is also a good excuse
(8,878-ft) Monte Cinto is here, to take the small-gauge train
and its big gest river, the Golo. up from Ajaccio or Bastia.
Musée de la Corse
"'= ⌂ La Citadelle
Boats tied up in lovely Porto # Hours vary, check website
village, at the head of the ¢ Public holidays ∑ musee-
stunning Golfe de Porto corse.com
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