Monte Astu, setting off from San Gavino di Tenda

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Created in 2006 by the chair of the Nebbiu Rando Association and still maintained, the signposted walking route leading from San Gavino di Tenda to Monte Astu begins at the Chiesa fountain at the top of the village. With over 1,100 metres of elevation gain, this is the most mountainous of the walks in the micro-region. In fact, it requires considerable effort on the first ‘ascent’ until you pass the A Genucula rock, at an altitude of 1,042 metres. Hikers can then catch their breath on a path with a more manageable gradient and enjoy the scenery all the way to the summit cross at 1,535 metres, where a magnificent 360° panorama awaits. The return journey along the same path is by no means uninteresting, offering exceptional photo opportunities all the way.

Details

n°76780058
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.93 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 3,704 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 3,704 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 5,020 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,316 ft
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Description of the walk

Getting to San Gavino di Tenda by car
- coming from Bastia via the D82, reach the Col de San Stefano and take the D62.
- Coming from Saint Florent, take the D82 towards Oletta, then turn off towards Lake Padula and follow the D262.
Leave the D62 at the bottom of the village and drive up to the church. Find a parking space, taking care not to obstruct traffic.
The sign for the walk is visible near the fountain opposite the town hall.
The route is mainly signposted with cairns and a few wooden signs.

(S/E) From the town hall, follow the steeply ascending village street to the last house.

(1) Take the path running under the canopy of trees. Go through a gate, making sure to close it behind you. Continue for 300 metres.

(2) Leave the path to the left, following the sign for “Monte Astu”. Pass in front of a haystack (pagliaghju) and continue along the well-marked path, initially through low vegetation which becomes denser further on, until you reach a rocky outcrop.

(3) From this rocky outcrop, follow a steep, stony path requiring particular care. Continue to the “A Genucula” rock at an altitude of 1,042 metres.

(4) After you’ve “warmed up your calves” and passed the 1,042-metre mark, the gradient becomes more manageable until the start of the final ascent, at an altitude of 1,470 metres.

(5) From this point, turn left; throughout this short ascent, the narrow, rocky path requires extra caution right up to the summit.

(6) The return journey to San Gavinu (S/E) follows the same route in the opposite direction. Be sure to keep an eye out for the signposts, which are harder to spot when travelling at a naturally faster pace on the descent.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,316 ft - The square in front of the church of San Gavinu di Tenda
  2. 1 : mi 0.12 - alt. 1,430 ft - End of the village road – start of the footpath
  3. 2 : mi 0.33 - alt. 1,555 ft - Junction towards Monte Astu
  4. 3 : mi 0.63 - alt. 1,936 ft - Rocky outcrop
  5. 4 : mi 1.85 - alt. 3,379 ft - A Genucula Rock
  6. 5 : mi 3.72 - alt. 4,810 ft - Start of the final ascent
  7. 6 : mi 3.96 - alt. 5,020 ft - Monte Astu
  8. S/E : mi 7.93 - alt. 1,316 ft - The square in front of the church of San Gavinu di Tenda

Notes

Fountain at the start.

Shelter near the church.

Worth a visit

(1) The village of San Gavino and its church.

Between (4) and (6): the unique atmosphere of a mountain trail.

(6) Monte Astu and its 360° panoramic views

  • the Tenda massif, the Nebbiu plain and the Patrimonio vineyards.
  • the Gulf of Saint Florent.
  • Cap Corse.
  • the Bastia region.
  • The beaches of Agriate and Balagne.
  • On a clear day, the view stretches as far as the Southern Corsican mountain range.

Other walks in the area

Walking The Orticheta Stream walk from Santu-Petru to San-Gavinu

Association / Club / Walk leader
Le tour du Ruisseau d'Orticheta de Santu-Petru à San-Gavinu
↔4.54 mi ↗+1,168 ft ↘-1,165 ft ◔3h 05 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Santo-Pietro-di-Tenda (Haute-Corse)
What makes the villages covered by this walk unique is the length of their respective territories, each of which stretches all the way to the Agriate beaches.These are coastal municipalities, certainly, but historically rural, as Santu Petru di-Tenda and San-Gavinu di-Tenda have, since their origins, clung to the foothills of the eponymous mountain range, where the majority of their population is concentrated. Here, the route allows you to explore these two remarkable towns via a circular route. As you walk along the old communal paths that still link them, or through their respective narrow streets, you’ll linger at exceptional viewpoints and feel the sense of wonder evoked by the local natural and cultural heritage. * Please note : You are advised to make yourself known if you see a sign stating ‘hunting in progress’, and it is essential to keep your pet on a lead. This route is strongly advised against from 15 July to 31 October 2026 See practical information

Walking Piève–Sorio circular loop

Association / Club / Walk leader
Boucle Piève - Sorio
↔3.83 mi ↗+1,322 ft ↘-1,329 ft ◔2h 55 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Piève (Haute-Corse)
Second circular route of the route: ‘Between the Secular and the Sacred’, created on the initiative of the municipalities of Rapale, Pieve and Sorio, using the old footpaths that once linked the three villages. This route is every bit as good as the previous one when it comes to exploring the local heritage: menhir statues, wash houses, fountains, cobbled alleyways and village paths lined with walls – that’s the secular side.The sacred heritage is equally remarkable, featuring the churches of San Quilico in Pieve, San Filippu Neri in Sorio and the chapels.The return journey from Sorio to Pieve, offering a panoramic view over the Nebbiu plain and the Gulf of Saint Florent, is ideal for taking photographs. This route is strongly advised against from 15 July to 31 October 2026 See practical information

Walking Circular route via the Chiesa Nera

Visorando Member
Boucle par la Chiesa Nera
↔3.59 mi ↗+945 ft ↘-945 ft ◔2h 30 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Piève (Haute-Corse)
Pleasant circular walk passing the ruins of a 13th-century chapel, with lovely views of Cap Corse, the Gulf of Saint Florent and the Tenda Mountains.

Walking Rapale and Pieve circular loop

Association / Club / Walk leader
Boucle Rapale et Pieve
↔4.06 mi ↗+1,010 ft ↘-988 ft ◔2h 45 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Rapale (Haute-Corse)
Created on the initiative of the municipalities of Rapale, Pieve and Sorio, the ‘Between the Profane and the Sacred’ route passes through these three beautiful villages in the Upper Nebbiu region, which have preserved and showcased a heritage that is an absolute must-see.Communal footpaths, mule tracks, Romanesque chapels, menhir statues, a church with an off-centre bell tower, plus a route through chestnut and oak woods, making it suitable for walking in all seasons.This description is not a copy-and-paste of the certified route but a variant split into two circular loops that follow its route. The idea is to make the route more accessible by reducing the distance and duration, thereby allowing more time to explore the heritage. This is therefore the first circular loop. This route is strongly advised against from 15 July to 31 October 2026 See practical information

Walking A story of stones and water in Murato

Visorando Member
Histoire de pierres et d'eau à Murato
↔4.17 mi ↗+771 ft ↘-768 ft ◔2h 35 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Murato (Haute-Corse)
The village of Murato invites you to discover a trail called Histoire de pierres et d'eau (History of Stones and Water). It is a tourist circuit between village and nature where you can discover Murato Supranu (upper part of the village) and Murato Sottanu. You will pass through narrow streets, old houses, churches, chapels, fountains, pagliaghji (straw huts), wash houses and bread ovens. This route is not intended to be a long hike, but it has the merit of allowing you to discover the past and can be enjoyed by the whole family.

Walking Murato loop, nature and heritage

Association / Club / Walk leader
↔6.46 mi ↗+928 ft ↘-925 ft ◔3h 45 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Murato (Haute-Corse)
This is a lovely family walk around an exceptional village. Not only because of the natural areas you pass through and the scenery they offer, but also because of the history of the place and the preservation of its heritage. Or quite simply because of the quality of life that Muratu, in the Corsican language, offers its residents, whether they are permanent residents or just passing through. This impression is confirmed by the condition of the buildings – from the renovated old ones to the most recent – as well as by the variety and quality of the shops. Along the route, walkers will discover, to the south, the plateaus with their rich agro-pastoral history and the ruins of the San Frusulu chapel, which has recently been restored. After a short stretch over the heights of the village of Piève , followed by a descent through the maquis, you reach the banks of the small coastal river ‘the Bevincu’, spanned by its Genoese bridges. The village centre offers a chance to appreciate Murato’s significant vernacular heritage. This route is strongly discouraged from 15 July to 31 October 2026 See practical information

Walking Circular walks from Murato via San Michele and Teppa di Lucciana

Association / Club / Walk leader
↔6.22 mi ↗+955 ft ↘-961 ft ◔3h 40 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Murato (Haute-Corse)
Here is a new route starting from the Church of Saint Michael in Murato, which quickly takes the walker to discover the ‘Queen’s Rock – Teppa di Luciana’. The archaeological excavations of this ‘enormous rocky chaos’ are described in the ‘Places to See’ section. On the descent towards the coastal river Bevinco, traces of the area’s agricultural and pastoral past can be seen. In and around the village, there are magnificent historic buildings , including the 12th-century Pisan church , other churches and chapels, as well as restored old structures such as ovens, wash houses and fountains. On the southern outskirts, heading towards the Col de Bigorno, renovated Genoese bridges allow you to cross the Bevinco. An old ice house can be seen beside the Strada di Bigorno, which you’ll take on the return journey. Just before crossing the Pont Neuf, there is a picnic area for walkers. Finally, on arrival, you can visit the Church of San Michele, a12th-century Romanesque building in the Pisan style.

Walking Circular Salinelle - Giru di Salinelle, in Nebbiu

Association / Club / Walk leader
Boucle de Salinelle - Giru di Salinelle, dans le Nebbiu
↔8.28 mi ↗+1,827 ft ↘-1,831 ft ◔5h 25 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Vallecalle (Haute-Corse)
Vallecalle occupies a strategic location amongst the villages of the Upper Nebbiu.The suggested route takes walkers to Murato and then Rapale, with a return to Vallecalle made possible by the recent reopening of the Santo Pietro Vecchio mule track.In these places steeped in history, the pagliaghji (haylofts) bear witness to the region’s once-thriving agricultural and pastoral activity. The abundance and quality of the Romanesque architectural remains remind us of our ancestors’ devotion to the sacred.The cool stretches under oak and chestnut groves, followed by open terrain, and the superb panoramic views add to the appeal of this route.Visits to the villages, rich in heritage monuments and traditional crafts, are well worth a detour. Walking times should be adjusted accordingly. This route is strongly advised against from 15 July to 31 October 2026 See practical information

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