The Ajaccio region, a land of hiking
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
What a luxury to be able to admire the sea (and even swim in it on arrival) from a hiking trail... well, in Ajaccio it's within easy reach.
From the heights of the town, join the road to the Iles Sanguinaires via a path through the scrubland: the Chemin des Crêtes.
From the Bois des Anglais, walk to the Terre Sacrée beach.
You can walk there all year round, and the landscape changes with the seasons. Just make sure you don't go during the hot summer hours, as there's no shade, or too late in the evening to avoid being surprised by the night (and wild boars!). Our advice? Go in the morning, the light is ideal; it'll sublimate your Instagram posts (don't hesitate to tag us @ajaccio.tourisme).
From the Parata peninsula, you can reach the mythical Capo di Feno beach in just 1h15; this is the Sentier des Douaniers (also known as the Chemin de la Corniche). You'll make your way back with a view of the Iles Sanguinaires. In mid-season, temperatures are milder, allowing you to set off in the morning, picnic on the beach and return in the afternoon. The more athletic among you can do it in trail mode.
Climb to the top of the Pays d'Ajaccio
The Ajaccio hinterland is surrounded by mountains from which you can overlook Ajaccio and the surrounding valleys. From Mont Gozzi to Punta Sant'Eliseu, viaAragnascu, you'll overlook the Ajaccio region.
Making hiking rhyme with identity
High above Ajaccio, the Château de la Punta watches over the imperial city. Although the building, which is currently being restored, is not open to the public, the hike to its gates retraces a part of the history of 19th-century Ajaccio. You'll discover the Lisa dam, hidden in the scrub, and the fountains that irrigated the entire valley.
The Peri heritage trail follows the water path to a chestnut grove. The one in the village of Vero leads to a small summit from which you can admire the village.
Almost every village has a heritage trail. These paths were used to link hamlets together, for the transhumance of livestock or to transport harvests. Often accessible to the general public, this type of trail offers an immersion into Corsican agro-pastoral society. It allows visitors to discover ancestral techniques such as dry-stone wall construction.
Going beyond the borders of the Ajaccio region: the Val d'Ese...
You can't talk about hiking in Corsica without mentioning the pozzi. In Corsican, the word pozzi means "holes". Many hikes are called "I Pozzi" because they lead to meadows marked by water holes or, more accurately, peat bogs. A lunar landscape then appears before our eyes, and it's not unusual to come across wild horses.
Around 1 hour's drive from Ajaccio, you can reach the Val d'Ese ski resort. Yes, that's right, there is a ski resort not far from Ajaccio. In winter, you can go to Les Pozzi on snowshoes (but it's better to do it with an outdoor activity provider if you're 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.
... at the Voile de la Mariée waterfall
Heading towards Bastia, just before the Vizzavona pass, the Voile de la Mariée waterfall can be admired from the roadside. If you'd like to see it up close, just take the short but steep path. Once you've reached the rocky promontory from which you can observe A Piscia di a Spusata (its Corsican name), be careful not to approach the watercourse. The mountains are so beautiful that we sometimes forget that they can be just as dangerous. To get the most out of your walk, be sure to follow the advice of our colleagues at the Celavu-Prunelli Tourist Office.
All that's left to do is put on your hiking boots, equip yourself (bag, water, dried fruit...) and, of course, check the weather forecast.
Oh yes, if you haven't already done so, drop by the Tourist Office to pick up our hiking guide, which contains step-by-step descriptions of all these trails (and more!).
