An adventurous mountain walk with a variety of scenic features
Monte Rotondo is a scenically very impressive walk and at the same time one which requires the greatest of challenges that Corsica has to offer mountain walkers, anyhow one which involves a steep ascent of a good 1600m. Therefore start this walk as early as you can in the morning but also because of the views. Ferdinand Gregorovius extoled its virtues in his descriptions from 1852: »The horizon which you can see from Rotondo is more fabulous and beautiful by far than from Montblanc.« In fact in good visibility there’s a superb view of all the significant peaks and mountain lakes (with the exception of Melo lake) on the island. If you prefer not to go to the summit you should at least make a visit to the idyllic Oriente lake. Here you are presented with an incomparable high mountain landscape: lush green meadows, burbling streams, sparkling white snowfields. It’s as if you are standing in a gigantic amphitheatre with the summit of Rotondo at its apex.
Location: Corte, 396m, train station on the Bastia – Ponte Leccia – Ajaccio line.
Starting point: Pont du Timozzu, 1000m, 11km to the west of Corte, on the road into the Restonica valley. Bus service from Corte in the tourist season. Parking also at the Pont de Tragone which crosses the Restonica just beforehand.
Height difference: 1100m to Oriente lake, 1650m to Monte Rotondo.
Grade: easy, but laborious walk to Oriente lake on well-marked paths, surefootedness (I+) and good fitness required for the summit ascent. The couloir to the summit is usually covered in snow into July.
Refreshment and accommodation: bivouac hut on the summit, restaurants, hotels and campsites in the Restonica valley and Corte.
Alternative: we recommend the following two-day trek: travel by train from Corte to Tattone, ascend from there as in Walk 59 to the Petra Piana hut with overnight stop and the next day climb to the summit and descend into the Restonica valley.
Map: IGN 4251 OT (1:25.000).