Category Nature

There are several varieties of chestnuts here in Corsica.

The ‘Rudulacciu’ is very fruitful, giving three chestnuts by chestnut bur – the fruit literally bends the branches of the trees during the autumn season.
The ‘Vicu’ can be easily recognised by its fruit; they fall with their chestnut burs and remain conserved for a long time.
As for the ‘Poarupa’, it only gives two chestnuts by chestnut bur, but they are quite beautiful. We cannot really name all of the varieties, as there are many, but, we must mention the ‘king of chestnuts’ – the ‘Zerubia’ – of a wondrous size, giving two chestnuts by chestnut bur and highly recommended for drying.

The most common varieties are the following:
‘L’Insitina’ of medium size and good quality, also known as ‘Orezzinca’ or ‘Campanese’.
The ‘Pitrina’ or ...

Here’s another emblematic figure from the Island of Beauty, immortalised a few years ago in ‘Astérix in Corsica’.
The legendary wild boar is a powerful and robust cousin of the pig. His coat is dark, and his legs are short – he is stocky, and has a low rump.
The male is equipped with two short defences, which prove to be extremely impressive during fights, or over the mating season from November to December.

The wild boar feeds on acorns, chestnuts, roots, fruit and truffles, that he unearths; using his snout to plough the ground – this also gives that strong, authentic taste to his meat.

Hunting wild boar in Corsica is a true institution...

This reserve covers almost 40% of the island’s surface area, with an area of 365 000 hectares. One of the visible actions is the development of hiking activities, especially of benefit to the villages in the interior of the island. Classified for the first time in 1972, to be once again classified in 1999. With its rich and endangered natural and cultural heritage, it remains the subject of a concerted development project, based on the preservation and improvement of heritage carried out by all partners.

The project aims to protect and improve the natural, cultural and human heritage of its territory, by implementing an innovative policy of economic, social and cultural development, respectful of the environment.

Revitalisation of the rural area:
An essential approach is to ensure a new de...

This is a very pleasant and easy hike, count around 3h but you may wish to allow time for a picnic and swimming. A suitable outing for children too, the trail is marked with twelve informative and amusing signboards, about life within the chestnut grove villages. You’ll meet many animals that are free to roam around; pigs, cows, birds and sometimes even wild boars. The start of the trail is in the heart of the village of Evisa, just opposite the bar/restaurant ‘A Tramula’. The chestnut trail, which was a former transhumance path, will take you through the groves, bordered by some magnificent stone walls and pine forests, leading you to the waterfalls and natural pools of Aitone.

Source: Les Couleurs du Bout du Monde

Beautiful, isn’t it. The ‘Piscia d’Ortola’ waterfall can be reached from the village of Bastelica which is near Ese, this is around 1h walk with 385m of level difference. In distance, around 38k from Ajaccio, just to give you an idea. The round trip takes about 3h all in all, passing through mountainous and rustic countryside, leading to various sheep pens around this region.

This is really a lovely hike, at certain times through chestnut groves and the Volta irrigation canal, built in the XVIII century in order to divert part of the water to the village of Bastelica, a mountain village perched at around 800m.
This canal took its name from the river Volta, running into the Ortola waterfall, before flowing into the Prunelli river...