Nestled in the center of Corsica, Corte stands proudly as the island’s historical and cultural capital. This mountain city, dominated by its citadel perched on a rocky outcrop, offers a spectacular backdrop of majestic peaks and verdant valleys.
In 2025, Corte continues to seduce visitors with its unspoilt authenticity and the diversity of its activities. With its historical heritage, wilderness adventures, culinary traditions and lively university life, the town is an essential stop-off point for discovering the true soul of Corsica, far from the beaten track of mass tourism.
Corte’s historical and cultural heritage
Corte’s exceptional historical heritage bears witness to its central role in Corsican history. As the former capital of the Corsican nation in the 18th century under Pascal Paoli, the city has preserved many vestiges of this glorious period.
The citadel and the eagle’s nest
Perched on a rocky promontory, Corte’s citadel is the town’s emblem and a must-see site. Completely restored in 2024, it offers a breathtaking panorama of the surrounding valleys and Corsican mountains. In 2025, a new scenographic tour will enable visitors to discover the history of this emblematic monument through interactive installations and historical reconstructions.
Le Nid d’Aigle, the name given to this fortress due to its dominant position, is now home to the Musée de la Corse. Completely renovated in 2025, this anthropology museum presents exceptional collections on Corsican identity, island traditions and the evolution of Corsican society over the centuries.
Themed guided tours are offered daily, enabling visitors to delve deeperto delve deeper into certain aspects of Corsican history and culture.
The Museum of Corsica and temporary exhibitions
The Museum of Corsica, housed in the former citadel barracks, is one of the island’s major cultural attractions. Its modern, immersive museography reveals the many facets of Corsican identity. The permanent collection was enhanced in 2025 with the addition of a section dedicated to contemporary Corsican art, highlighting the island’s creative vitality.
Temporary exhibitions, which are renewed three times a year, address a variety of themes relating to Corsica and the Mediterranean. For 2025, the museum is offering an exceptional exhibition entitled “Corte, capital of the Corsican Enlightenment”, exploring the city’s intellectual and political role in the 18th century.
The fact is that this exhibition brings together for the first time rare historical documents and objects on loan from international museums. It sheds new light on this seminal period.
Natural wonders around Corte
Located in the heart of the Parc Naturel Régional de Corse, Corte is an ideal base from which to explore the island’s natural splendors. The surrounding region abounds in exceptional sites, from spectacular gorges to high-altitude lakes and unspoilt forests.
The Restonica and Tavignano gorges
The Restonica Gorge, with its crystal-clear waters and natural pools, is one of Corsica’s most impressive natural sites. The winding road up the valley offers breathtaking panoramas of the surrounding mountains. In 2025, new ecological facilities will enable visitors to enjoy this exceptional site while preserving its fragile environment.
The lakes of Melo and Capitello, high altitude gems accessible after a hike from the terminus of the Restonica road, reward walkers with turquoise waters nestled in a striking mineral setting.
These glacial lakes, located at altitudes of 1,711 and 1,930 metres respectively, are now accessible. A trail, redesigned in 2025, facilitates ascent while protecting fragile ecosystems.
Vizzavona forest and Monte Rotondo
The Vizzavona forest, some thirty kilometers from Corte, is an oasis of coolness particularly appreciated in summer. Its hundred-year-old beech trees and waterfalls create an enchanting atmosphere for hiking and contemplation.
In 2025, a new interpretation trail will enable visitors to discover the exceptional biodiversity of this forest. The trail is equipped with explanatory panels on the endemic flora and fauna.
Monte Rotondo, Corsica’s second highest peak at 2,622 metres, offers a stimulating challenge for experienced hikers. The ascent, which can be completed in two days with an overnight stay at the Pietra Piana refuge, reveals grandiose panoramas over the whole island.
Since 2025, mountain guides have been offering accompanied climbs, enabling you to discover this mythical peak in complete safety.
Sports activities and adventures in the great outdoors
The Corte region is a paradise for outdoor sports enthusiasts and nature adventurers. From hiking and canyoning to climbing and mountain biking, the possibilities are endless for sports enthusiasts.
And if that’s not enough, thrill-seekers can even enjoy hiking, canyoning, quad biking, via ferrata and boat trips. These activities allow them toexplore the region’s natural wonders.
Hiking and trekking around Corte
Corte is a major stopover on the famous GR20, considered one of Europe’s most difficult long-distance hiking trails. This legendary route crosses Corsica from north to south, following the mountain ridges. In 2025, new refuges were built along the route, offering greater comfort for hikers while respecting the environment.
For less experienced walkers, there are a number of signposted footpaths that allow you to discover Corte’s surroundings on day hikes. The Heritage Trail, created in 2025, links several traditional villages around Corte, allowing visitors to discoververnacular architecture and ancestral know-how.
To this end, a mobile application has been developed to accompany hikers with historical and cultural information about the places they pass through.
Canyoning and white water sports
The tumultuous rivers that flow down from the mountains around Corte offer ideal conditions for whitewater sports. Canyoning in the Gorges du Tavignano offers the chance to discover otherwise inaccessible landscapes, with abseiling down waterfalls, jumping into natural basins and water-sculpted rock slides.
For thrill-seekers, rafting and hydrospeed on the Asco and Golo rivers offer courses to suit all levels. In 2025, a new nautical base was built near Corte, offering an ideal starting point for these activities.
These sports are supervised by qualified instructors who ensure the safety of participants while raising awareness of the need to preserve aquatic ecosystems.
Corten gastronomy and flavours
Cortenese cuisine, authentic and generous, is one of the essential pleasures of a stay in Corte. From local produce to traditional recipes, the local flavors promise a true taste journey.
Culinary specialities to discover
Corten gastronomy is characterized by exceptional products and recipes handed down from generation to generation. Among the unmissable specialties are :
- prisuttu, a dry-cured ham matured in the Corsican maquis ;
- pulenta castagnina, polenta made from chestnut flour.
These traditional dishes are being revisited by a new generation of chefs who combine respect for tradition with creativity. In 2025, a number of Corten restaurants were singled out in gastronomic guides for their innovative approach to Corsican cuisine.
Local producers and markets
The Corte market, held twice a week on the Place Paoli, is an essential gourmet stop-off for discovering local produce. The colorful stalls are brimming with seasonal fruit and vegetables, artisanal charcuterie and Corsican cheeses such as brocciu and niulincu.
In 2025, a new farmers’ market was inaugurated in the station area, offering the opportunity to discover local specialities in a convivial setting. In addition, culinary workshops are held every week, offering the opportunity to learn how to cook the region’s emblematic dishes with local chefs.
Cultural events and university life
Corte, with its university founded in 1765 and refounded in 1981, is a dynamic student town offering a rich cultural life all year round. Between festivals, concerts and conferences, the city of Paoline vibrates to the rhythm of numerous events.
Festivals and cultural events
The“I Sulleoni” festival, which takes place in July, transforms the city into a huge open-air stage. Concerts, street shows and artistic performances take over the squares and alleyways of the historic center. For the 2025 edition, the program features Mediterranean music, creating bridges between the different cultures of the Mediterranean basin.
The Rencontres Littéraires de Corte, held every September, attracts renowned writers to the exceptional setting of the citadel. In 2025, this literary festival celebrates its 15th anniversary with an exceptional program, including debates, public readings and writing workshops open to all.
The University of Corsica and its activities
The Université de Corse Pascal Paoli is one of the island’s major cultural and intellectual centers. Its research laboratories, particularly in the fields of the environment and renewable energies, enjoy international recognition. In 2025, the university inaugurated a new research center dedicated to sustainable development in the Mediterranean environment, attracting researchers and students from all over the world.
The Centre Culturel Universitaire, located on the Mariani campus, offers a varied cultural program throughout theacademic year. Theater, cinema, concerts and exhibitions punctuate Corten’s cultural life and are accessible to students, residents and visitors alike. Since 2025, a mobile application has been available for discovering the program and booking tickets online.
Conclusion
Corte, with its unique blend of history, culture and unspoilt nature, is set to become one of Corsica’s must-visit destinations by 2025. The former capital of the Corsican nation has managed to preserve its authenticity while developing a diversified tourism offering that respects its environment.
Choosing to stroll through Corte’s historic streets, venture into the spectacular gorges that surround it, or discover its traditional gastronomy promises memorable experiences. Corte offers an ideal setting for these activities, guaranteeing unforgettable memories.
The richness of its historical heritage, the grandiose beauty of its mountainous landscapes and the vitality of its cultural life are just some of the reasons to discover or rediscover this fascinating city. Whether you’re a history buff, a hiking enthusiast or simply in search of authenticity, Corte is waiting to reveal its many facets and offer you an unforgettable stay at the heart of Corsica’s soul.
