Balcony Trail from the Barbaggio Belvedere

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The Balcons trail, starting from the Belvédère de Barbaggio (downhill) or the RD238 (uphill), offers a nearly 10 km round trip with continuous views of the vineyards and the Conca d'Oru. It can also be taken as a one-way trip (5 km) by leaving a car at the end point and another at the starting point.

Surrounded by scrubland, this trail offers remarkable views of the landscapes of the Grand Site de France Conca d'Oru, the Patrimonio vineyards, the Gulf of Saint-Florent and the limestone chain of Mont Sant'Anghjulu, whose six iconic hills are the visual signature of the area.

Details

n°77896004
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.41 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 321 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 319 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 492 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 173 m
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Photos

Wine-growing conch shell
Viewpoint
Path view
Belvedere

Description of the walk

(S/E) From the car park at the viewpoint, take the path downhill, cross the Brietta stream and you will arrive at the Raticciu stream.

(1) Continue along the path to reach the Bishop's House.

(2) Keep going, cross the Cannute stream and you will arrive in front of a pagliaghju, located higher up.

(3) Continue along the path until you reach the end of the trail on the RD238.

(4) Return to the starting point by following the route in reverse (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 490 m - Barbaggio Belvedere car park (D38)
  2. 1 : km 1.76 - alt. 382 m - Raticciu stream
  3. 2 : km 2.83 - alt. 314 m - Bishop's House
  4. 3 : km 3.78 - alt. 258 m - Pagliaghju
  5. 4 : km 4.71 - alt. 173 m - RD238
  6. S/E : km 9.41 - alt. 490 m - Barbaggio viewpoint (D38)

Worth a visit

The Balcons trail is one of the trails opened and developed by the Grand Site de France Conca d'Oru, Patrimonio vineyard - Gulf of Saint-Florent in 2025, as part of the implementation of its "soft travel plan". The aim of this plan is to develop soft and active mobility in the area, for an immersive and unique experience.

To learn more about the Grand Site, we invite you to visit our Maison du Grand Site, a scenographic space open to the public and located in the port of Saint-Florent!

Not to be missed:
- The Barbaggio Belvedere: at the start of the trail, it offers a magnificent view of the Conca d'Oru.
- The agricultural mosaic: a listed site at the origin of the creation of the Grand Site de France, the Patrimonio vineyard is the heart of the Conca d'Oru. It produces wines recognised by an iconic AOP wine designation, the AOP Patrimonio, which is the oldest in Corsica (1968). Today, farming practices are diversifying, and you can now see olive groves, livestock, etc.
- The "Strette": real windows linking the inland area to the sea, the " strette " are discontinuities in the limestone chain. There are three of them in the Grand Site.
- The Bishop's House: located along the hiking trail, you will pass by the walls of the former Bishop's House, which dates back to the Middle Ages. It was the second home of the bishops of Nebbiu. According to oral tradition, the bishop would descend to the Chapel of San Quilicu, a listed11th-century building located below, to celebrate Sunday mass.
- The pagliaghju: on the trail, you will come across a pagliaghju (" straw shed "). A Corsican agricultural and pastoral structure linked to the region's former cereal farming activity, it is a multifunctional space that was used to store straw, hence its name, but also as a temporary shelter for shepherds or their animals.

Other walks in the area

Walking Chjassu Napuleone in Barbaggio

Local authority
Chjassu Napuleone à Barbaggio
↔2.99 km ↗+24 m ↘-232 m ◔0h 55 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Barbaggio (Haute-Corse)
Starting from Barbaggio town hall (heading downhill), the Chjassu Napuleone crosses the village before entering a forest, where you can see old agricultural gardens on either side of the path. The richness of this route continues when you take the "imperial road" that gave the trail its name. Before becoming emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte is said to have walked this road. The trail can also be taken in the opposite direction (uphill), starting from the bridge at the intersection of Strada San Petru and Strada Napuleone. If you are only doing a one-way trip, i.e. not returning, remember to leave one car at the starting point and another at the end.

Walking In the vineyards of Patrimonio

Visorando member
Dans les vignes de Patrimonio
↔9.65 km ↗+139 m ↘-143 m ◔3h 10 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Patrimonio (Haute-Corse)
A beautiful walk, surrounded by the vineyards of Patrimonio, between Monte San'Angelo and Col de Teghime.

Walking Chjassu Maria Gentile between Poggio d'Oletta and Oletta

Local authority
Chjassu Maria Gentile entre Poggio d'Oletta et Oletta
↔4.47 km ↗+197 m ↘-200 m ◔1h 50 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Poggio-d'Oletta (Haute-Corse)
The Chjassu Maria Gentile is a pretty walking loop connecting the neighbouring villages of Poggio d'Oletta and Oletta. The route offers rich and varied landscapes: villages, scrubland, oak forests, streams... Its name is a tribute to Maria Gentile, a young heroine of the area who became a symbol of courage when, in 1769, at the age of just 20, she defied French soldiers who had sentenced the inhabitants of Oletta to death for plotting a conspiracy. Maria Gentile's fiancé, like his companions, was sentenced to death and executed without the right to a burial. Maria, refusing to abandon her fiancé's body, decided to defy the ban and, at nightfall, set out to recover it and give him a proper burial. Since then, Maria Gentile has been considered the Antigone of Corsica.

Walking From Olzu Beach to Calanca di à Torre

Visorando member
↔5.42 km ↗+55 m ↘-54 m ◔1h 40 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Saint-Florent (Haute-Corse)
From Olzu beach, follow the coastal path to admire the beautiful coves and inlets. Wear sturdy footwear.

Walking Loop via Saint-Florent starting from Oletta

Association / Club / Walk leader
Boucle par Saint-Florent au départ d'Oletta
↔8.63 km ↗+107 m ↘-106 m ◔2h 45 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Oletta (Haute-Corse)
From the edge of the commune of Oletta, an old mule track leads to Saint-Florent via the plain. At its end stands the Cathedral of Nebbio, waiting to be discovered or rediscovered.After a short detour through the vineyards of the Patrimonio appellation, which offers a superb view of the gulf and the beginning of Cap Corse, hikers reach the town, its citadel and its port.The quays, once dedicated to fishing boats, are now home to the largest marina on the Isle of Beauty. Once you cross the Pont Neuf bridge over the Aliso, the renovated seawall and Roya beach reveal much more accessible attractions such as fishing and swimming.The return journey is via a rural communal path lined with shepherds' huts, known as pagliaghji, built from white Saint-Florent stone.

Walking Le tour de la colline de Cotolone à Oletta

Association / Club / Walk leader
↔4.56 km ↗+175 m ↘-169 m ◔1h 50 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Oletta (Haute-Corse)
Au départ de l'ancien couvent Saint-François d'Oletta, voilà une très jolie randonnée en pleine nature, de caractère familial puisque sans difficulté et bien ombragée.Plusieurs points d'intérêt jalonnent ce circuit, et une belle fontaine, au deux tiers du parcours, permet de ne pas se charger en eau potable.Parking assuré, y compris les jours de marché qui se tient sur la place du couvent, chaque mardi et vendredi du 1er Juin au 30 Septembre, en matinée.

Walking Chjassu Maria Ghjentile

Association / Club / Walk leader
Chjassu Maria Ghjentile
↔4.86 km ↗+227 m ↘-219 m ◔2h 00 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Oletta (Haute-Corse)
This hike between Poggio d'Oletta and Oletta was created by our association in March 2024 to honour the memory of the Poggiolese heroine Maria Ghjentile. In the spring of 2025, it underwent a significant and interesting change. Thanks to the joint efforts of the Grand Site de France "Conca d'Oru, vignoble de Patrimonio - Golfe de Saint-Florent" and the municipalities concerned, a new itinerary has been developed that is sure to meet the wishes of hikers.Two starting/finishing points are available, each with their own car park: the square in front of the former Saint François convent in Oletta and the car park at the town hall in Poggio d'Oletta. Information dated 3 September 2025: the change to the route between the town hall in Poggio and the church in Oletta proposed by our association avoids crossing and then following the Poggio-D38 road for 350 metres.

Walking Circular, Saint-François Convent - Oletta

Association / Club / Walk leader
Boucle , Couvent Saint-François - Oletta
↔4.44 km ↗+252 m ↘-251 m ◔2h 00 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Oletta (Haute-Corse)
With a suggested tour of the historic centre of Oletta, discover the narrow streets that have been completely renovated by the municipality but retain their old-world charm.There's no way to get lost: the lower and upper streets lead walkers back to Sant'Andria Church and Piaza Nova; from here or from the Muntaghjò steps (at the top of the village), the views are remarkable.As the communal paths and narrow streets are partially sheltered from the strong sunlight, this walk can be enjoyed in any season.Extension-Variation Visit to the Romanacce hamlet - 1 km round trip from point no. 3 Muntaghjò districtAs the Oletta Town Hall website states, "...even though the hamlet is no longer inhabited, it still lives on through the Miracle of the painting of the Virgin Mary that took place there in 1737".The story of the miracle is recounted on a panel at the entrance to the house where it took place, whichcan be visited free of charge, as can the adjoining Saint Anthony Chapel.

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