Corsica; Beautiful Mediterranean Island Of France

For motorists: Corsica has almost exclusively twisty mountain roads. Apart from the main road along the east coast, the average speed barely above 40 kilometers per hour. The roads are indeed reasonable, but tortuous. Even on main roads for some little bits where two cars can pass each other. The very narrow road from the east coast to the spectacular Col de Bavella we only mention, that is for experienced mountain riders.

The history of the island goes back a long way, evidenced by the discovery of the skeleton of a woman in the years around 6500 BC must have lived. Slightly younger (from 1300 BC), the menhirs were found. The principal location of settlements from the Bronze Age, Filitosa, a fee to visitors. Even with the guide, this site did not seem much more than a hill with some rocks (apart from some menhirs). For example, the nicer Castellu d’Araghju, a castle which is just as much standing that everyone can think about what it must have looked. A visit will cost them nothing except a hot walk half hours.

The first “civilized” people who settled in Corsica, were probably Greeks. They named the island for the island of beauty (Kallistu). Later, Etruscans, Carthaginians, Vandals, Germans and so on, usually not too peaceful.

From 1100 to 1729 successively ruled the city of cities of Pisa and Genoa on the island. Pisa built especially churches, especially Genoa left behind forts and watchtowers. Of these towers is a large number survived. Some seem from the outside even in decent condition.

In 1729 Corsica was supported by France when it was about to release the oppressors from Genoa. That support ended in sheer domination by France, which mainly hit the poor hard. Desperate, the Corsicans have accomplished a Corsican-English kingdom. In vain: the British left the island after a few years, after which Genoa sold the island to France. Since then, the French island. The desire for independence in the eighteenth century thanks to Pasquale Paoli, never entirely disappeared. Corsicans are proud that their Pasquale Paoli wrote a constitution for Corsica, which model would even stand for the Constitution of the United States.

In the year 2003 there is only a small minority who want independence. It uses violence, but little or no focus on tourism. That is far too important to the economy of the island, certainly not rich. Tourists will most numerous bullet holes in the road show.

However, the Corsicans are proud of their language and culture, their beer, their cheese and their wine. The Corsican language is still spoken among themselves, speak all the Corsicans without exception simply French. Belgian problems are than who will start in French in French response. Of regional music concerts are given in the smallest villages.

All places of any interest (after at Corte) lie on the coast. Almost all they owe to the glorious past of the island, a small citadel. In particular, Bonifacio, on the southern tip, is worth a detour. It is a larger medieval town on the spectacular white cliffs. Ajaccio (with Bastia) a place that even today the city still named deserve. The city with its casinos and its nightlife is even a bit mundane nature. But here you can, as everywhere on the island that the island was not as rich as the mainland.

A Canadair waterbombers working at a fire in the Gravona Valley, east of Ajaccio.

The interior areas are rough. Large parts of it are protected nature reserve, including vultures, sparrow hawks and endangered turtles hermann. There are also many wild pigs. Between the mountains and scrub numerous meandering streams in the spring probably raging rivers, but in summer the mountain streams full of dried up ponds, where you can paddle left and right and sometimes a few meters to swim.

That drought in the summer also the biggest problem of Corsica. Not just every year a looming shortage of water for drinking and irrigation, the fire is enormous. Nowhere fire patrol as much as on this island, but still burn every year thousands of hectares of forest and scrub off. A smoldering cigarette butt is enough to a very dry forest in the shaft to turn. Because of the fire is on charcoal bbq on most sites is not allowed (on air must usually does).

The usual way to Corsica to come in three hours from Nice, by speedboat from SNCM and Corsica Ferries. These boats, however, if it starts to blow a bit strong, but the author of Most SNCM and Corsica also is troubled by strikes. Sails from Marseille la Meridionale.
The alternative: sailing from Italy. Moby Lines maintains service from Genoa and Livorno, Corsica Ferries from Savona, Livorno and Piombino.
Flying is also possible.