| The forest of Tartagine - Melaja is a forest massif in north-west Corsica. It is located in the Giussani district. It is a territorial unit of 2 783 ha, which covers the southwestern part of the municipality of Olmi-Cappella and the northwestern part of the Mausoleo municipality, which the Corsica Region Nature Park is made of. It is located 1 km east of the Bonifatu forest, from which it is separated by bocca di Tartagine (1,852 m). This forest owes its name to the Tartagine river and its tributary, the Melaja river. AccessThe forest can only be accessed by one road. The D963 (which leads to the four villages of the Giussani district) can be taken in two places: ⦁ At the junction near the San Colombano pass on the RN 197 ⦁ in Speloncato via the Bataille Pass (1,099 m) ⦁ The D639 ends in a cul-de-sac at Tartagine Forest House (705 m). It continues with a forest track where traffic and parking are regulated. Apart from the forest house, the massif is not inhabited. It suffered extensive damage during the last major fire in September 2003, when 1,800 ha of forest were destroyed. The GR 20 doesn't reach the forest of Tartagine, but it is possible to reach the refuge of l'Ortu di u Piobbu by crossing bocca di Tartagine (1,852 m). Hikers enjoy other possibilities in the forest massif. A site plan showing a portion of the GR 20 is posted at the beginning of the path with the location of signs, PNRC refuges, parking spots, trails, and major streams. The former forest house of Tartagine, built in stone in the 19th century and privately-owned, has been transformed into a holiday cottage. It can accommodate 28 people in 12 rooms. |
