A hidden gem between sea and maquis
Imagine a village suspended between azure sky and wild maquis, where the beaches seem whispered rather than indicated, and where every alley seems to keep a secret. Here, time slows down, the light softens, and the scent of the maquis blends with the iodized breath coming from the sea. Few visitors know this preserved enclave of Balagne. Yet, once you set foot here, it is impossible not to fall under its spell.
During my last trip to Corsica, while escaping the summer crowds, a friend whispered the name of this place almost quietly, like a well-kept secret. He told me: “Go there, and you will see… You will forget the Caribbean.” I smiled. He was right.
To read: Discover Corsica
L’Île-Rousse: more than a seaside resort
This village is L’Île-Rousse. Often overshadowed by its neighbor Calvi, it nevertheless has its own assets: a discreet charm, a gentle atmosphere, and some of the island’s brightest beaches. From the moment I arrived, I was struck by the colorful appearance of its old town, its checkerboard alleys, and its shaded squares that seem straight out of another time.
But it was especially its beaches that took my breath away. The Ghjunchitu beach, accessible via a small path, is a ribbon of blond sand caressed by crystalline water. A few minutes away, Bodri offered me a solitary swim early in the morning, as the mist gently rose over the Corsican mountains.
And then there is Ostriconi, wilder, framed by verdant hills, accessible by a narrow winding road. The sand there is an almost surreal white. I spent an unforgettable late afternoon there, alone facing the horizon, with only the sound of crashing waves and the wind in the broom bushes as a soundtrack.
An island, a tower, a summit
Facing the harbor, the island of Pietra attracted me like a magnet. You have to go there at sunset. The light sets the red rocks ablaze, and the path leading to the Genoese tower offers a 360° view of the gulf. I climbed it on an August evening, camera in one hand, a figatellu in the other, and breathless — more by the beauty than the climb.
The little train that runs along the sea
Another surprise: the Trinighellu, this narrow-gauge train that connects the villages of Balagne while running along the sea. It’s not just a means of transport, it’s a journey in itself. Through the half-open window, I saw secret coves, golden mountains, and perched chapels pass by. A succession of living paintings that left me with a rare feeling of fulfillment.
L’Île-Rousse is not just a seaside village: it is a sensory, intimate experience, almost confidential. Its secret beaches, its gentle way of life, its still wild Mediterranean landscapes have engraved in me a memory far stronger than a stay in the tropics. If you are looking for a place to recharge, away from clichés and crowds, this is where the magic happens.
