Three villages in Castagniccia starting from Piedicroce

This circular route in Castagniccia offers both a remarkable natural and cultural setting. Passing through villages and other built-up areas, it allows you to discover Corsican heritage: houses, chapels, churches, a convent (near Piedicroce), as well as wash houses and fountains. The circular path, mostly in the woods, is shaded while offering exceptional views of the various villages in the region. Small streams provide refreshing breaks in summer, while remaining passable in winter.

Details

92036100
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Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.04 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,148 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,142 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,851 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,752 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Piedicroce (20229)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 42.375882° / E 9.367738°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 4349OT, 4351OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park of the church in Piedicroce.

(S/E) Return to the village by heading south.

(1) Turn right onto the D71 towards Pie-d'Orezza. Pass the post office and the town hall and immediately leave the road for a path on the left. Descend, cross a ravine and continue downhill to Fium'Alto.

(2) Cross the bridge and climb up the other side.

(3) At the first junction, turn right towards Piedipartinu and continue climbing. Arrive at Piedipartino, near the church on the left.

(4) Follow a small road on the right. After about 150 m, take a path on the right that descends. This leads to a small road, which you should follow to the right.

(5) At a sharp right-hand bend, leave the road, take a path on the left and cross the Fium'Alto again (picnic area before the bridge). Pass a wash house and climb up to Pie-d'Orezza, at the foot of the church.

(6) Turn left and walk along the church on your left. Take the stone steps on the left. First turn left then right to cross the road and take a path. Climb up to the village of Campodonico (chapel on the left).

(7) Follow the road down to the right. Take a cattle grid and descend to Bocca di Ruggia (pigsty).

(8) Let the road turn left and continue straight ahead on a path through a chestnut grove. Come out onto a small road and follow it to the right to the village of Pastoreccia.

(9) Continue straight ahead. The tarmac quickly gives way to a path. Descend and enter Pieddicroce via a staircase.

(1) At the crossroads you took at the start of the hike, take the second road on the left and quickly return to the church (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 2,080 ft - Parking - Église Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul (Piedicroce)
  2. 1 : mi 0.09 - alt. 2,077 ft - Crossroads of the circular loop
  3. 2 : mi 0.75 - alt. 1,752 ft - Bridge over the - Flum'Alto (fleuve)
  4. 3 : mi 0.88 - alt. 1,850 ft - Junction
  5. 4 : mi 1.22 - alt. 2,064 ft - Église Saint-Bernardin (Piedipartino)
  6. 5 : mi 1.8 - alt. 1,991 ft - Start of the trail - Flum'Alto (fleuve)
  7. 6 : mi 1.96 - alt. 2,070 ft - Église Saint-Antoine de Padoue (Pie-d'Orezza)
  8. 7 : mi 2.51 - alt. 2,822 ft - Chapelle de l'Annonciation (Campodonico)
  9. 8 : mi 2.93 - alt. 2,667 ft - Bocca di Ruggia
  10. 9 : mi 3.54 - alt. 2,408 ft - Pastoreccia
  11. S/E : mi 4.04 - alt. 2,080 ft - Parking - Église Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul (Piedicroce)

Notes

In Pie-d'Orezza, you will find a large picnic table and a barbecue area.

There are also water points (Piedicroce, Piedipartinu, or Pie-D'Orezza).

As this is a circular route, you can start from either of the villages along the route.

Worth a visit

A few minutes' walk from Piedicroce, you will find the ruins of the Orezza convent, an important monument in the region.

The villages you pass through are also worth seeing for their remarkable architecture, such as the parish church of Piedipartinu.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 2 reviews

Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
Chis Coach
Chis Coach

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 08, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely hike starting from Piedicroce. After Pie d'Orezza, there’s a lovely shaded climb up to Campodonico.😜👍.

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mathea
mathea

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 17, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Following the showers and strong winds, a few trees had fallen across the path. The climb from Pie d'Orezza to Campodonico is steep. A lovely hike with magnificent views over the villages of Castagniccia.

Machine-translated

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