Arcu di u Scandulaghiu or the Arch of Corte

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The route description is incomplete: there is a first wooden cross, then a dry stone shelter, and only then the cross described. The markings on the ground are very faint, and you need to pay close attention, especially at the beginning of the path.
Finally, it seems that once you pass the cross, you just need to follow the ridges. In fact, the path climbs continuously (40% gradient) almost all the way to the Arch. Only the last few hundred metres are flat, and not on the ridges but below, on a path along the mountainside.
So you need to be a good walker to do this route

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Date of your route : Feb 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed in February! Yes, it is indeed passable (although you do need to check the weather forecast and make sure it hasn't snowed).
There was no one else on the trail, unfortunately, and sometimes the markings were hard to see on the rocks and trees, so it's easy to stray from the path. You have to follow the map carefully.

Other than that, it was a great hike, completed in 5 hours and 20 minutes with a nice 45-minute break at the arch for a picnic.

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Date of your route : Aug 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A fairly exposed hike in the first part (set off early in summer), followed by a walk under the trees at altitude.
Beautiful views of the town and valley of Corte, the section overlooking the Tavignanu valley is superb and the arch is worth the effort.
The markings are a little faded, so GPS positioning is useful, although it is difficult to get lost.
Duration: 3½ hours. No water. Few people encountered on the trail.

Thank you for this route.

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Date of your route : Aug 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did the hike on 7 August. The descriptions were good and the signposting worked well, but the hike took us 7 hours instead of 5½, and the distance we covered was 13.5 km instead of 8.8 km. I wanted to point this out because if we had known the hike was longer, we would have allowed more time and brought more food and drink.
But everything went well and it was beautiful.

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Date of your route : Dec 26, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The description is perfect, but the orange markings fade over time. The high number of visitors in summer will certainly solve the problem. A GPS device with the route marked is strongly recommended. The arch is magnificent, especially at this time of year with the colours of the landscape blending greens, browns and the white of the snow on the peaks.

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Date of your route : Jul 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

very good
physical
Leave early because the first third of the climb is in full sun with no shade.
The arch is worth seeing!

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Date of your route : May 31, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great hike! Challenging and long, but what a reward at the arch! I took a detour at an altitude of 1,280 metres on the way back (between points 2 and 3) to avoid the steep descent... Route marked on Openstreet. We didn't see many people... which was great for taking photos at the arch... Thanks to the author!

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Good evening,
Thank you for correcting that. Writing a description isn't easy and takes time. It's true that here in Corsica, the signposting is tedious for those hiking without GPS or other means. The signposting isn't done by the Vosges club, and often you have to guess the paths, and the one to L'Arche isn't the easiest, I agree!

Have a good evening and enjoy your holidays. Avà hè l'ora di l'aperitivu

Incantesimu

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Good evening
you're right, that's not what I meant; I'll correct it. I just wanted to point out that the description was too brief for the part from the forest.
Have a good evening.

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Hello,

Well, I'm the author of this hike, and although I'm no longer twenty, or even thirty, let's just say I'm not 70, I often do this hike, which takes 5 hours there and back, and it's true that it's not easy. This is Corsica, and all the hikes here have to be earned! Apart from that, I don't understand why: Reliability of the description: Average is not justified!!!!

Don't be discouraged, go for it!

Incantesimu

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Date of your route : Jun 16, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I should warn you that the trail is tough; you need to be in fairly good shape to make it to the end. The climb is constant and steep, with (too) few flat sections to catch your breath... Follow the orange markings and the Visiorando trail closely, as it's easy to get lost... But the arch is magnificent!!!
The description could be more detailed; the forest crossing is long and challenging. "Along the ridge" actually means nothing but climbing and descending (a little). I can confirm that there is no water... in hot weather (mid-June), I drank 4.5 litres!
Conclusion: you need to be in good shape (it took me 4 hours to climb up and I consider myself an average walker), 2.5 hours to descend (really tough), go at your own pace... and take plenty of water with you.

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Date of your route : Sep 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, challenging due to its length and elevation gain, but without any particular technical difficulties. The first part (about a quarter of the way, before the chestnut trees) is a little less interesting (barren landscape above Corté) and challenging on the descent when your legs are tired. There is little shade along the route, and a litre and a half of water was barely enough. A sun hat is essential!

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Date of your route : May 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Great hike, quite challenging for getting back into it! Steep climb right from the start, but if you take your time, it's fine!
Not too crowded and not too hot at this time of year. I wouldn't recommend it in summer as there isn't much shade!

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Date of your route : Aug 11, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike taken on a summer morning
filmed mainly with a drone

https://youtu.be/Msd_4uD0phA

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Date of your route : Sep 24, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Personally, I wasn't able to do this hike, but my husband and son did.
They told me they "suffered", even though they are experienced mountain hikers.
It's uphill all the way, and they got very hot, so make sure you take plenty of water with you as there's nowhere to refill on the way.
The arch is very pretty, but with an elevation gain of 1,120 metres from the Citadel of Corte, it's only for hikers with good stamina. I had to settle for their photos, which is a shame, but from what they said, I would have given up!
No particular difficulties, a few rock climbing sections but nothing dangerous.
You have to be modest in the mountains!

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