Ghisonaccia walks

Au Sud d’un chapelet de zones humides qui s’étend du Fiumorbu au Travu, l’Étang de Palo est une vaste lagune sédimentaire de 110 ha. Quatrième de l’île par sa taille, il a gardé depuis ses origines un caractère naturel. Palo accueille l’un des plus grands ensembles de sansouires de Corse (milieu limoneux stérile couvert d'efflorescence saline) avec une surface de plus de quarante hectares.

Forest, lake and marine habitats provide valuable refuges for many birds, which find in Pinia a place to nest, overwinter or simply stop over.

Set off to explore U Castellu and the Circinellu Cave, a prehistoric site steeped in revolutionary history from the time of Paoli. Then climb up to Bocca di Ghjuva via the Mare a Mare Centre and, after passing Bocca di Minagoli, descend through a chestnut forest towards Ania.

At a height of 100 m, the Buja waterfall (Piscia di a Bughja) is one of the highest in Corsica. At its foot is a pool where you can cool off and relax on the rocks. If you look carefully, this waterfall can be seen from afar, especially from the road leading to the village. The long white trail it leaves on the mountain is particularly impressive in winter, when the water flows freely.Bughja (from the word Bughju: darkness).

You will be delighted to discover the surrounding high peaks; this path will lead you through a beautiful beech forest and to the foot of the Undella waterfall (Ondella waterfall).

Starting from Solaro, walk through the forest. Focus mainly on discovering the flora. The route is suitable for different audiences, fun and family-friendly, punctuated by several workshops, and focuses on discovering the riches of the heritage and preserving biodiversity.

The walk to the heights of Chisa and the U Saparghionu cave is a short hike. Before setting off, we met Antonin, a village elder who speaks highly of it – a close-knit village that has lost its soul over the years. We also met two Brittany Spaniels who accompanied us throughout the walk. You’ll no doubt spot them in the village: true guides....

Our eleventh stage on theGR®®20, this stage largely follows the ridges and peaks. Sometimes in the forest, sometimes in the open.

The old Petra Rossa mine, known as the Finosa mine, opened in 1912 to extract lead, silver, manganese and iron ores, and was closed after the Second World War. Source: WikipediaThe Finosa mines extracted silver-bearing lead (galena, cerussite), zinc (blende) and copper (bornite).Most of the mining at La Finosa was carried out in open pits.Prospecting on the site began in the 1910s. Source: Ghisoni Civil Heritage.

Located north of Aléria, the Etang de Diane is renowned for its oyster and mussel production. It is surrounded by wetlands and marshes that constitute protected areas, thus hosting large populations of sedentary or migratory birds and sometimes endemic species.

The Pozzines (from the Corsican word i Pozzi, meaning wells) are acidic peat bogs crossed by winding streams. They are located at altitudes between 1,700 and 2,300 metres. They occupy depressions formed by ancient glacial lakes, which were filled in by clay deposits and numerous dead plants. In Corsica, the deposits of the oldest pozzines are thought to date back around 12,000 years.

Stage 13 between the Usciolu PNRC refuge and the Croci sheepfold follows the new route via Matalza (since 2011). A stage with not much elevation gain, but one that should not be underestimated. The start along the ridge is a bit technical up to Punta di a Scaddatta. Then a descent through the forest, crossing fields of ferns before a gruelling climb, part of which is on a track, up to the Croci sheepfold on the Coscione plateau.

Our twelfth day of walking on the legendaryGR®20in Corsica, another day with ridges, but also a nice stretch on a plateau and therefore a big change of scenery.

Arriving on a small plateau, the path continues until it crosses a small stream. Then, a narrow, winding path where you may encounter some wild pigs takes you up under chestnut trees to the Col de la Croix. From there, follow the track to the right and discover the splendid panorama of the eastern plain, the sea, and the Monti Renoso and Kyrie Eleison (Christe Eleison). The track then descends to the village of Ghisoni.

This is a magnificent hike that has never been done before, as there is a section that is not listed. The trail starts halfway to the Ghisoni ski resort via a shortcut that leads onto the famous GR®20. This route offers a wide variety of landscapes and vegetation, including fir and beech forests, scrubland, rocky areas, lakes, rivers, animals, sheepfolds and the famous pozzi, which are magnificent in this location. These are pools of water in the green grass that form natural basins, connected by small river veins in the grass. The outward journey is via the Lacs de Rina, and the return via the GR®20. There are a few tough, steep sections, but all in all, it's not a very difficult hike, and well worth the effort.

Rocky summit with beautiful panoramic views. Climbing towards Sari Solenzara, view of the Bavella peaks. Located between earth and sky, in the shadow of Monte Santu, in the heart of untouched wild scrubland, the monastery of Assunta Gloriosa is set in a majestic landscape. To the west, the Bavella peaks rise up with force and grandeur. To the south, the terrain overlooks the Tyrrhenian Sea, which stretches as far as the eye can see.

Views of the Tyrrhenian Sea from Solenzara and Pinarellu, the Aiguilles de Bavella massif and the Monastery of the Assunta Gloriosa via the ascent of Monte Santu... What superb panoramas... Tra mare a monte! Circular inspired by the Monte Santu d'Incantesimu hike.

Set off to explore this beautiful hike, which will take you to Punta Cali, a peak rising to 1,389 metres above sea level, marking the southern boundary of the commune of Vezzani and the western boundary of the commune of Pietroso. This trail alternates between forest sections with majestic Lariccio pines and more open rocky areas. It offers exceptional panoramic views, with a 360° vista of the island’s main peaks, numerous villages in central Corsica, the eastern coast, the Tyrrhenian Sea and the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago: Elba, Monte Cristo and Giglio.

This hike, starting from the beautiful village of Vezzani, will allow you to discover the beauty and diversity of the landscapes in a green setting. You will pass through chestnut groves and a magnificent Lariccio pine forest. You will enjoy magnificent views that will take your breath away.

Starting from the square in front of the church in Vezzani, set off to explore the wild world of the Corsican maquis and the beautiful Laricio pine forest of Rospa Sorba. The route offers magnificent views of the east coast of eastern Corsica and the islands of the Tuscan archipelago, as well as breathtaking views of Corsica's main mountain ranges from Punta Tana and Punta Cali, located near the route.

From the church square, set off to explore the wild world of the Corsican maquis. You will walk along pastoral paths where you may encounter herds of goats and sheep, on the ridge separating the Tavignanu and Tagnone valleys. You will enjoy exceptional views of the surrounding mountain ranges and the island of Monte Cristo.

Our thirteenth and final stage on theGR®20. The landscapes are magnificent and very different from what we have seen so far. The mountains are red and the vegetation much drier.

A short, easy walk leading to an old fort which you can walk around. As indicated on site, do not attempt to enter the interior (danger of rockfall).