Practice
Hiking

Walks and hikes in the Grand Site de France

To enable residents and visitors alike to better discover the Grand Site de France, its exceptional landscapes, villages, heritage and remarkable panoramic views, the Syndicat mixte du Grand Site (Grand Site Joint Association) is offering four new walking trails to complement the existing range of hiking routes.

Barbaggio – Poggio d'Oletta

THE PANORAMIC BALCONY TRAIL

  • Distance: 10km (round trip)
  • Elevation gain: 175 metres
  • Level of difficulty: Difficult
  • Departure: from the Barbaggio viewpoint, 1 km from the Teghime Pass (downhill hike) or from the RD 238 (uphill hike)

The Balcony Trail offers continuous views overlooking the Conca d'Oru and the Patrimonio vineyards. Surrounded by scrubland, it offers remarkable panoramas of the Grand Site landscapes and the limestone chain of Mont Sant'Anghjulu, whose six iconic hills are the visual signature of the area.

See the route

Not to be missed

on the way!

The Bishop's House
Located along the hiking trail, you will pass by its ancient walls, which date back to the Middle Ages. It was the second residence of the bishops of Nebbiu. According to oral tradition, the bishop would descend to the San Quilicu chapel, a listed 11th-century building located below, to celebrate Sunday mass.
The pagliaghju
On the trail, you will come across a pagliaghju (straw shed). This is a type of Corsican agricultural and pastoral building, linked to the region's former cereal farming activity. It is a multifunctional space that was used to store straw, hence its name, but also as a temporary shelter for shepherds or their animals.
The agricultural mosaic
For centuries, agriculture has been at the heart of the Conca d'Oru region, shaping its identity. Viticulture has developed significantly here, becoming dominant across a patchwork landscape that resembles a mosaic.
The «strette»
True natural windows linking the inland areas to the sea, the «strette» are discontinuities in the limestone chain. There are three of them on the Grand Site.
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Poggio d'Oletta – Oletta

CHJASSU MARIA GENTILE

  • Distance: 5.4 km loop
  • Elevation gain: 305 metres
  • Level of difficulty: Average
  • Departure: from the Town Hall of Poggio d'Oletta or from the Convent of San Francescu in Oletta

The Chjassu Maria Gentile is a lovely walking loop connecting the neighbouring villages of Poggio d'Oletta and Oletta. The route offers rich and varied landscapes (villages, scrubland, oak forests, streams, etc.).

Its name pays tribute to Maria Gentile, a young local heroine who became a symbol of courage when, in 1769, at the age of just 20, she defied the French soldiers who had sentenced the inhabitants of Oletta to death for plotting a conspiracy. Maria Gentile's fiancé, like his companions, was sentenced to death and executed without the right to a burial. Maria, unwilling to abandon her fiancé's body, decided to defy the ban and, at nightfall, went to retrieve it to give him a proper burial. Since then, Maria Gentile has been considered the Antigone of Corsica.

See the route

Not to be missed

on the way!

The San Francescu Convent
Built at the end of the 12th and beginning of the 13th century, the convent once housed 18 brothers, including three priests and several clerics. In 1769, it served as headquarters for the French Royal Army troops who landed at Saint-Florent. Since 1974, part of the convent has been listed as a historic monument.
The Rivarola tomb
On your journey, perched atop Muzzellu Hill, you will see the Rivarola family's 19th-century funeral chapel. This family, who settled in Corsica (in Bastia and Oletta), was allied with Pascal Paoli's cause.
The mill of Guallu
At the edge of the trail, you can see a stone water channel that used to supply the old Guallu mill, now renovated and converted into a dwelling. This mill inspired Oletta lyricist Dumenicu Marfisi to write the famous song «U Mio Mulinu».
The fountains
Several ancient fountains dot the Maria Gentile trail. As you stroll along, be sure to read about their history on the dedicated information boards.
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Farinole

CHJASSU DI U CUNVENTU

  • Distance: 5.3 km loop
  • Elevation gain: 351 metres
  • Level of difficulty: Average
  • Departure: from the church of San Cosimu è Damianu in Farinole

The Chjassu di u Cunventu is a village loop trail that allows you to discover Farinole and its breathtaking landscapes. Starting from the church of San Cosimu è Damianu, the route passes through the village before reaching the scrubland. It runs alongside the Marianda convent and then takes a panoramic path from which you can see the Farinole marina. Finally, the path rejoins the forest canopy before returning to the village.

See the route

Not to be missed

on the way!

The Church of San Cosimu è Damianu
Dating back to the 17th century, this church is located on a ridge below the hamlet of Bracolacce. Inside, visitors can admire a beautiful statue of the Virgin Mary and penitents.
The Convent of Marianda
In 1606, during the pontificate of Pope Paul V, the legal foundation of the Franciscan convent of Marianda was established. Work continued until 1671 and then resumed from 1702 to 1750. The convent was built thanks to donations and bequests from the inhabitants of Farinole, Patrimonio and Barbaggio. The walls of the convent, now in ruins, still bear witness to its majesty and its location with its magnificent views.
Old Fountain
This very old fountain probably dates back to the creation of the hamlet of Poghju. Before 1920, when the first mountain springs were tapped, it was used to supply drinking water to the inhabitants of the hamlet. It was restored in 2021.
The Genoese tower of Farinole
From the panoramic section of the trail, don't miss the Genoese tower of Farinole, located below, at the village marina. A listed historical monument, it was built in 1562 and remained in service until the end of the 17th century. Now owned by the municipality of Farinole, it is the last Genoese tower in good condition in the Grand Site.
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Barbaggio

CHJASSU NAPULEONE

  • Distance: 6km (round trip)
  • Elevation gain: 266 metres
  • Level of difficulty: Average
  • Departure: from Barbaggio Town Hall, or from the bridge at the junction between Strada San Petru and Strada Napoleone

The Chjassu Napuleone trail crosses the village of Barbaggio before entering a forest where ancient agricultural gardens can be seen on either side of the path. The richness of this route continues as you take the imperial road that gave the trail its name. Before becoming emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte is said to have travelled this road during his exile to Toulon in 1793.

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Not to be missed

on the way!

The old gardens and their stone walls
Between the Lucitello stream and the edge of the forest, the path is lined with low stone walls, built for agricultural and pastoral purposes, which once marked the boundaries of old cultivated gardens. These walls bear witness to the agricultural past of the municipality.
The chestnut grove
During your walk, you will see an old chestnut grove near the small bridge that spans the stream running alongside the Strada Napoleone.
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Heritage

THE HERITAGE TRAIL

  • Distance: 4.8 kilometres
  • Level of difficulty: Easy
  • Departure: from the square in front of San Martinu Church in Patrimonio

The heritage trail (Chjassu di a Memoria) starts at San Martinu church square. It passes through several old hamlets in the village. As you stroll through their narrow streets, you will discover the history of Corsica, from the Middle Ages to the Empire, including the Paolist period. The path will lead you to the Fiume Albinu river, where you can explore one of the village's mills and small agricultural heritage sites (clowns, dry stone walls, canals and ponds, etc.). Along the route, you will find centuries-old olive trees, as well as ancient gardens, evidence of past agricultural activity.

(Source: Corsican Heritage Trails)

See the route

Saint-Florent, Patrimonio and Farinole

THE VECCHIAIA TRAIL

  • Distance: 4 km (8 km round trip)
  • Level of difficulty: Easy
  • Departure: from Olzu beach in Saint-Florent (car park by the bunker), or from Catarelli beach in Farinole

The Vecchiaia trail is a coastal path offering wild landscapes. Running along the seashore, it winds through fragrant scrubland and offers sublime views of turquoise coves and limestone caves. Along the way, you will pass a beautiful olive grove and two old bunkers, remnants of the Second World War. Whether you start from Olzu Beach or Catarelli Beach, this trail with its varied panoramas offers a glimpse of the riches of the area.

Farinole

THE MINE TRAIL

  • Distance: 3.2 kilometres (round trip)
  • Level of difficulty: Easy
  • Departure: from the Church of Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian in Farinole

This lovely walk starts at the Church of Saint-Côme and Saint-Damien and leads to the old magnetite mine at’In Ferrara. Easy to access, it offers beautiful panoramic views of the Gulf of Saint-Florent and Farinole Beach. Along the trail, you can also learn more about local biodiversity thanks to the many educational panels that present the plant species found on the site.

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