Northern Corsica: Cap Corse & Balagne

Bastia is the port city of Northern Corsica and is dominated by the 17th-century Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste with its two bell towers. Here you can visit the Citadel of Bastia, a fortified district founded by the Genoese in the 14th century on a rock above the coastline. At the foot of the Terra Vecchia district lies the Vieux Port, while Place Saint-Nicolas, with an area of 22,400 square meters, is one of the largest squares in France.

Erbalunga is a fishing village where the houses are built directly on the waterline of the Mediterranean Sea. On a rocky outcrop in the harbour stands the partially collapsed Genoese watchtower, the Tour d'Erbalunga, from the sixteenth century. Here you can wander through a maze of narrow alleys and covered passages. These lead to the Place de l'Église, a charming square with terraces under old plane trees. As an artists' village, Erbalunga has a relaxed atmosphere, perfect for enjoying the view of the harbour and the tower.

Macinaggio is a fishing village and marina on the northeastern tip of Cap Corse. Here you can walk through the maquis to sixteenth-century Genoese watchtowers and bays such as Plage de Tamarone. From the quay, you can look across the Tyrrhenian Sea to the islands of the Tuscan archipelago.

Saint-Florent combines a chic marina with the mountains of Nebbio. Those who climb the round 15th-century citadel look out over the azure Golfe de Saint-Florent. In the 12th-century Cathédrale de Nebbio, you'll find the mummified body of Saint Floriano. Boats sail from the harbor to the white sandy beaches of the Désert des Agriates. A lively atmosphere prevails on the quay as the sun sets behind the citadel and the terraces fill up.

Île-Rousse is a port town on the north coast of Corsica, founded in 1758 by Pasquale Paoli. From the quay, you can walk to the Île de Pietra peninsula, where a lighthouse and a sixteenth-century Genoese tower stand on the red granite rocks. On the central Place Paoli, you'll find terraces under plane trees, and in the nearby covered market hall, you can buy local products. The sandy beach is directly adjacent to the town centre.

A 13th-century Genoese citadel towers high above the marina in Calvi. Within the city walls, you'll find a plaque dedicated to Christopher Columbus among the narrow streets. Along the coastline, the expansive sandy beach stretches out for a dip in the bay. Those who venture into the Balagne mountains will see the stone houses of Sant'Antonino and the artisan workshops in Pigna. From the lively quay in the harbour, you can see the illuminated masts of sailing yachts against the fortress rocks.