With the family
Balcony villages, Cape Corsica, lagoon, archaeological site, wine route or even the authentic senses route... The area around Bastia are dotted with little treasures, which you'll love to discover on excursions. There are a number of different routes, both guided and self-guided, to help you explore the surrounding area. Here is our selection of «favourites» to discover during your holiday.
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Discover Cap Corse
This rocky ridge of Corsica is home to some of the island's finest wilderness treasures. You're bound to fall in love with its Genoese towers, its sublime American houses, its surprising little islands that emerge offshore, its secret coves and its maritime tradition... Cap Corse is an «island within an island» that's sure to win you over! Let yourself be tempted by an excursion in a mini-bus that will take you around the peninsula, discovering remarkable sites such as Centuri, Canari and Nonza....
South of Bastia: Furiani, the Armand Cesari stadium and the Pietra brewery
Just 10 minutes south of Bastia, the commune of Furiani offers a wonderful blend of nature and heritage. You'll love the hilltop village, with its fountains, wash-houses and Genoese tower supporting a magnificent bell-tower, taking you back to the Corsica of yesteryear. From the village, a simple walk through the maquis leads you to the Santa Maria Chapel, with its lovely view over the Marana lagoon. On the way back down to the plain, you'll love the footpaths among the dunes, the smell of the maritime pines in summer and the mimosa in winter. The Armand Cesari stadium and the unmissable Brasserie Pietra (guided tours in July and August) are other places to add to your itinerary!
Ville di Pietrabugno, San Martino di Lota, Santa Maria di Lota
Have you seen the villages perched on the hillsides above Bastia? Between the sea and the mountains, they are what we call the «Balcony villages». With all their charm of yesteryear, they make for great getaways just a few minutes from Bastia. Whether you're looking for Cardu, Town of Pietrabugno, San Martino di Lota, Santa Maria di Lota, all have preserved their traditional habitat, surrounded by scrub, olive and chestnut trees. These villages offer a real break from time. Leaving from Bastia, a half-day tour entitled «Between Sea and Mountain» allows you to discover these sumptuous villages at your own pace. Ovens, wash-houses, fountains and wine-presses from days gone by - authentic Corsica comes into its own here!
Birdwatching at the Étang de Biguglia Nature Reserve
The Étang de Biguglia is the green lung of the Bastia region! With its 1,790 hectares, it's one of Corsica's best-known bodies of water and even the largest on the island. The site is a protected nature reserve, offering the chance to observe more than 250 species of birds and discover almost 350 plant species. Don't hesitate to take the walk along the banks of the pond: it will take you to a shelter where you can watch the birds, and pink flamingos in particular, in total discretion! The Nature Reserve is a must-see in spring for photography enthusiasts, as it's the ideal time to follow the migration of oriental species that are uncommon in France. Don't miss the’Fortin Eco-museum, on the peninsula of the lake. Housed in a solid building with a rich historical past, it offers visitors a chance to discover the pond's flora and fauna through a scenography that explores the history of the site, the phenomenon of migrations, fishing activities and knowledge of wetland environments.
What to see around Bastia!
Just a few kilometres from Bastia, discover striking landscapes and varied and surprising places of remembrance. Remains from the Roman era, a medieval cathedral, but also a wealth of plants and ancestral treasures in the Traditional Gardens of Cap Corse, as well as awareness, biodiversity and ornithology in the Etang de Biguglia Nature Reserve.
The Wine Route
Patrimonio is synonymous with the Wine Route! If you're a wine enthusiast, this route is for you. It's entirely dedicated to discovering the small and large vineyards of Corsica. From Luri to Macinaggio, set off on a 53-kilometre discovery of the wines of Cap Corse, then continue your journey through Corsican grape varieties towards the Patrimonio vineyards. Covering almost 500 hectares at the foot of Cap Corse, you'll enjoy meeting winegrowers who are passionate about their land and their vines. The three main grape varieties that produce these sun-drenched wines, Niellucciu, Sciaccarellu and Vermentinu, will enchant your taste buds as you enjoy tastings at the estates.
The Authentic Senses Route
From the tip of Cap Corse to the Désert des Agriates, another route will delight the most discerning gourmets: the Route des Sens Authentic. By following this itinerary, you will have the opportunity to meet 68 producers and craftsmen with unique skills, all of whom love their land. When you're on holiday in Bastia, don't hesitate to open the doors of their farms or workshops to discover what they produce! Thanks to them, traditional skills live on and take on «all their meaning»... We're talking, of course, about these passionate breeders, beekeepers, cheese-makers, market-gardeners or wine-growers, whose products sublimate our culinary specialities. As well as their exceptional products, they'll be delighted to share a moment of conviviality and indulgence with you!
Sea trips
Along the Bastia coastline, there is no shortage of sea excursions to enjoy the shores of the Cape Corsica from a different perspective. It's great to discover the hidden coves of Cap Corse in a RIB, or to cruise along the coastline in a boat! Various shipping companies offer this type of outing. A great opportunity to discover the Cap Corse Natural Marine Park or the heavenly beaches of the Agriate desert, and admire the Genoese towers dotting the coastline as far as the Finocchiarola Islands
