Mare è Stagnu trail

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.

Details

n°714101
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Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.65 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 148 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 121 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 135 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 0 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Aléria (20270)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 42.119363° / E 9.549647°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 4352OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

In Aléria, head towards the road to the sea (Padulone Beach). Before reaching the beach (about 500m), turn left towards the Aléria Cooperative Winery and park in the car park.

(S/E) Turn right towards the sea. At the end of the path, a sign indicates the different routes along the lake. You can choose the route that suits you best; the one mentioned on the map is the left-hand track. Head to the observation point.

(1) Admire the magnificent panorama and discover a natural environment rich in diverse flora and fauna (myrtles, cysts, etc.). Continue north to reach the end of the track and find a Genoese tower (Tour de Diane).

(2) Turn left and walk along the pond to reach the oyster farm.

(3) Continue along the track and turn left at the first crossroads. Further on, you will reach a straight track.

(4) Take it to the left to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 26 ft - Padulone beach car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.85 - alt. 7 ft - View of the islands of Monte Cristo and Pianosa
  3. 2 : mi 1.75 - alt. 33 ft - Tour de Diane
  4. 3 : mi 3.38 - alt. 102 ft - View of the oyster farm
  5. 4 : mi 4.24 - alt. 79 ft - Straight track, on the left
  6. S/E : mi 4.65 - alt. 26 ft - Padulone beach car park

Notes

(2) Genoese tower built in 1582. Refreshment bar nearby.

Worth a visit

Tower of Diana.
View of the islands: Monte Cristo and Pianosa, on a clear day.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 26 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
3.9 / 5
Dofel
Dofel

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 27, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

This is the second time we’ve been on this walk, at the end of a lovely sunny September day, when the sun isn’t quite so strong. The Tower and Diane’s Pond are as beautiful as ever! What a pleasure it is to walk along the pond; the banks are still clean at the end of the tourist season, and that’s just fine!
Admittedly, the path is long, often bumpy and not very attractive, but the surroundings are superb!

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Robert_Claude
Robert_Claude

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A very easy walk, best avoided in hot weather as there is virtually no shade. Summer may not be the best time of year, as we saw very few birds.

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User 19006785

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A walk surrounded by flowers and the coastal greenery, which ultimately obstructs the view of the sea or the lake. It becomes monotonous and the scenery is repetitive. In April, it was already quite hot, with no shade. Mixed feelings.

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User 10126813

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Yes, we visited Diane's pond in Aléria, Corsica. The scenery was magnificent, and the tour was perfectly guided.

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marco 85
marco 85

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

Uninteresting route, 7 km in the blazing sun.

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cham34
cham34

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It's a very beautiful hike with no difficulty, but I don't recommend it in summer as there is little shade. In May, the flowers are a delight and the pretty views of the sea and the pond make this circuit a pleasant walk.

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Rico Ayr
Rico Ayr

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Excellent for a leisurely stroll, a pleasant and very accessible route.

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Rémy.A
Rémy.A

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A circuit that can be monotonous if you don't take the side roads.

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Lacaze
Lacaze

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Calm and peaceful, a beautiful walk between the sea and the lagoon in the Corsican scrubland

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martinebaron
martinebaron

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A sunny route in winter, but best avoided in summer!
Beautiful view of the snow-capped mountains from the side of Diane Pond.

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annickdaniel
annickdaniel

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant short hike in a natural setting. Be aware that it can get very hot in summer. Great in December, followed by a picnic on the beach at the end of the car park

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phidet
phidet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb hike that we did again in the opposite direction to enjoy different views.

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ID81360
ID81360

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

the first part, up to the tower, is great. It's interesting to walk along the sea and avoid the track to see the coastal plants, especially the sea daffodil. However, the second part isn't great, as there's a lot of track and there are also junctions leading to the pond that cause confusion. The signposting isn't clear. At the end of the circuit, it's the same thing: you lose the markings, it's monotonous and the landscape is uninteresting. It's the worst hike of our stay.

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Chis Coach
Chis Coach

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A parish-specific to Brittany hike. Easy, with beautiful spots on both the sea and lake sides. The tower is magnificent and the colours are superb.
The only downside is that when you reach the edge of the pond, there is quite a bit of rubbish on the shore, brought in by bad weather but also by the negligence of people who have squatted on the shore.🙁

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Jean-Michel Huguet
Jean-Michel Huguet

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

An easy, pleasant, very sunny route (hat recommended), between the sea and Diane Lake, with views of the mountains and islands. An olfactory discovery of the Corsican maquis. Unfortunately, I was unable to name this plant with such a pleasant fragrance.

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