The 5 Most Amazing Peaks around Casanova

The Belvedere of Corte is a viewpoint near the Corsican town of Corte, offering breathtaking views of the Citadel of Corte and the surrounding Restonica Valley. From this elevated position, you can admire the beauty of the Corsican landscape in all its glory. **View:** The panoramic view includes the historic citadel, which rises majestically on a hill, as well as the verdant, river-laced Restonica Valley. On clear days, the view extends far beyond the town, and you can explore the vastness of the Corsican landscape. **Access:** The Belvedere is relatively easy to access. There are several paths leading to the viewpoint, some of which are well-maintained and suitable for walkers. The hike there is a beautiful nature outing in itself. **Activities:** In addition to simply enjoying the view, the Belvedere is an ideal spot for photography. The breathtaking landscape offers countless opportunities for impressive photos. It's also a perfect spot for a relaxing picnic. It's advisable to bring weatherproof clothing, as the weather can change quickly in the mountains. **Additional Information:** There is no direct parking near the Belvedere; you'll need to park a little further away and take a short walk. The surrounding area is beautiful and offers further opportunities for hiking and exploring nature. The best time to visit is on a clear day to fully enjoy the view.

very pretty here, very pretty

Corte is located on a high plateau at an altitude of 436 m at the confluence of the Restonica and Tavignano rivers. It has 7,654 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2021) and is the seat of the sub-prefecture of the arrondissement of the same name.

The Corte Citadel is the only major military fortress in the interior. The rocky outcrop was already fortified in the 9th century. However, the castle was not built until 1419 under the Corsican adventurer Vincentello d'Istria, Viceroy of Aragon. The "Eagle's Nest", the southern tip of the rocky outcrop, is particularly impressive. It can be reached via a staircase made of "Restonica marble". Inside the citadel there were originally small houses and a chapel. Louis XV and then Louis XVI changed this part and started building the barracks. But it was only under Louis Philippe that the fortress took on its final appearance. The houses and the chapel were destroyed and the residents were housed in the "Lubiacce", the "building of the 100 residents". The military buildings initially provided accommodation for the garrison and were then converted into a prison for political prisoners. During the First World War, German prisoners of war were housed there, and during the Second World War, Corsican patriots were held prisoner under Italian occupation. From 1962, after the end of the Algerian War, the Foreign Legion was stationed there. Since the legionaries left in 1983, the site has belonged to the city of Corte. The facilities can be visited: from the "Eagle's Nest" you have a wonderful view of the surrounding area. Today, the citadel houses the national park office, a museum of Corsican history and university facilities.

Superb place, be careful to take good hiking shoes. Not to be done in wet weather, the descent will be dangerous.

Observation deck overlooking the Citadel of Corte.

Lots of tourists, too much hustle and bustle, take a picture and walk behind the castle in the beautiful nature.

We did the climb from the Restonica valley in early July. Heavy rainfall in May caused exceptionally large snowfields below the couloir. Orientation and finding a way was therefore more difficult than under normal circumstances. In particular, the descent on what is actually the same path required a good sense of direction, very confusing, also due to randomly placed cairns that ended in dead ends below the couloir (sometimes on the mighty, too steep granite slabs, which abruptly bordered snowfields and forced to turn back... with then new attempts). In total we have 15km, 3200m difference in altitude (ascent, descent), 6.5 hours in motion and 11.5 hours total time (2 x 45min breaks, remaining time for photos, path search) needed. Tip: be sure to inquire about the snow situation beforehand. possibly Bring a toddle, a snow plate for sticks and a rope. Luckily the snow was very soft, so we didn't need all that. Sticks are mandatory!