The Ajaccio region, a land of hikes

If you like hiking, the Ajaccio region is the ideal destination for your stay! From small paths of a few kilometres to long hikes, there is something for everyone. To each his own!

ADMIRE THE SEA FROM THE MAQUIS

Quel luxe de pouvoir admirer la mer (et même s’y baigner à l’arrivée) depuis un sentier de randonnée… et bien à Ajaccio c’est à portée de main (ou plutôt de pieds 😉 ). Depuis les hauteurs de la ville, rejoignez la route des Iles Sanguinaires via un sentier en plein maquis : le Chemin des Crêtes.

Au départ du Bois des Anglais, cheminez jusqu’à la plage de la Terre Sacrée.
Praticable toute l’année, le paysage change au gré des saisons. Attention juste à ne pas y aller aux heures chaudes l’été car ce n’est pas ombragé, ni trop tard le soir pour ne pas se faire surprendre par la nuit (et les sangliers !). Notre conseil ? Allez-y le matin, la luminosité est idéale ; cela sublimera vos posts Instagram (n’hésitez pas à nous tagguer @ajaccio.tourisme).

De la presqu’île de la Parata, on peut rejoindre la mythique plage de Capo di Feno en seulement 1h15 de marche ; c’est le Sentier des Douaniers (aussi appelé Chemin de la Corniche). Vous ferez le chemin du retour avec vue sur les Iles Sanguinaires. A la demi-saison, les températures sont plus clémentes et permettent de partir le matin, de pique-niquer sur la plage puis de rentrer dans l’après-midi. Les plus sportifs d’entre vous peuvent le faire en mode trail.

CLIMB TO THE TOP OF THE AJACCIO REGION

L’arrière-pays ajaccien est entouré de monts depuis lesquels on peut surplomber Ajaccio et les vallées qui la bordent. Du Mont Gozzi à la Punta Sant’Eliseu, en passant par l’Aragnascu, vous surplomberez le Pays d’Ajaccio.

COMBINING HIKING WITH IDENTITY

On the heights of Ajaccio, the castle of La Punta watches over the imperial city. Although the building, which is currently being restored, is not accessible to the public, the walk which leads to its gates retraces a part of the history of Ajaccio's life in the 19th century. You will discover the Lisa damYou will discover the water mill, hidden in the maquis, and the fountains which irrigated the whole valley.

The heritage trail in Peri follows the water path to a chestnut grove. The one in the village of Vero leads to a small peak from which you can admire the village.
In almost every village there is a heritage trail. It is a path that was used either to link hamlets together or for the transhumance of animals or for the transport of crops. Often accessible to the general public, this type of trail offers an immersion into Corsican agro-pastoral society. It allows you to discover certain ancestral techniques such as the construction of dry stone walls.

GOING BEYOND THE BORDERS OF THE AJACCIO REGION

One cannot talk about hiking in Corsica without mentioning the pozzi. In Corsican, the word pozzi means "holes". Several hikes are called "I Pozzi" because they lead to meadows marked by water holes or more exactly peat bogs. A lunar landscape appears before our eyes and it is not rare to come across wild horses.
About an hour's drive from Ajaccio, you can reach the ski resort of Val d'Ese. Yes, yes, you read correctly, there is a ski resort not far from Ajaccio. Moreover, in winter, you can go to the Pozzi with snowshoes (but it is better to do it with a provider of outdoor activities if you are not used to it...).

While the scenery is beautiful, this hike is not the easiest. The best time to go? In late spring (early June) when the bogs are full of water and the grass is green.

Heading towards Bastia, just before the Vizzavona pass, the The Voile de la Mariée waterfall can be admired from the roadside. For those who wish to see it more closely, simply take the path (it is short but the slope is rather steep). Once you reach the rocky promontory from which you can see A Piscia di a Spusata (its Corsican name), be careful and stay away from the stream. The mountain is so beautiful that we sometimes forget that it can be just as dangerous. To make the most of your walk, follow the advice of our colleagues at the Celavu-Prunelli Tourist Office.

(click on the picture to see the details of this hike)

All you have to do is put on your hiking boots, get equipped (bag, water, dried fruit...) and, of course, check the weather forecast.
Oh yes, if you haven't already done so, go to the Tourist Office and get our hiking guide booklet in which you will find a step-by-step description of all these paths (and more!).