Corte - Citadel of Corsica
Everyone will tell you : Corsica's heart beats in Corte. Historical capital of the ephemeral time of the island's independence the “ cité citadelle (quoted citadel) ” is emblematic of the island's values. An essential and central location that you should visit whatever airport you arrive at with Air Corsica.
Among the six citadels of the island, Corte is the only one situated within the grounds on a strengthened rocky piton overhung by a real “ eagle's nest ” : a site classified as a Historic monument since 1977 ! From the Belvedere, below the citadel, there is a panoramic view of the city and its surroundings. This is where the Museum of Corsica and the Corte Tourist Office are located.
But Corte is also, and above all, the bastion of the Corsican revolution for independence during the seventeenth century, led by Pasquale Paoli, known as “ U Babbu di a Patria (Father of the Nation) ”, a historical character both emblematic and charismatic whose memory lives on throughout the island. This General, son of the French Revolution and bearer of the values of the “ Lumières (Enlightenments) ” captured the imagination of the grandest European courts and all the great thinkers of his time with, notably, the drafting of the first democratic constitution of the history of humanity, the creation of a university, a printing works…
Nowadays, Corte still houses the famous university founded in 1755 by Pasquale Paoli of whose name it bears and has a population of 4,000. Finally, the city of Corte adhered to the FECN (Fédération Européenne des Cités Napoléoniennes) [European Federation of Napoleonic Cities) and it is the second city after Ajaccio to take part in the itinerary “ Destination Napoleon ” which has just been certified as “ European Cultural Itinerary ” by the Council of Europe.
For the more energetic, Corte is the ideal starting point for many mountain hikes in the heart of the beautiful Restonica valley and the mountain lakes of Melo, Capitello and Nino, where Corsican wild horses graze peacefully.
With Air Corsica, whether you choose to land at Ajaccio or Bastia, or even Calvi or Figari, with a rental car you can, at preferential rates, discover the charm of the island roads to get you where the heart beats in Corsica : Corte !
