Nature trail – village of Carbuccia
Difficulty: easy
Type: one-way
Duration: 1 h and 15 min
Difference in height: + 140 m / - 60 m
Length: 2,7 km
Attention: no water points available. Go back along the same itinerary.
Presentation
Carbuccia is part of the regional nature park of Corsica, of which this village is considered the gateway. The flora and fauna are protected: biodiversity is one of the island's main treasures. During this excursion, you can see birds of prey, wild boars, wild cats and Hermann's tortoises. The vegetation is also very varied: Carbuccia boasts ancient chestnut trees, centuries-old oaks and giant cork oaks.
After this hike, you should visit the village of Carbuccia: take a look at the church of St James (where you can find the oldest bell in the Gravona valley and the processional statue of St James) and at the chapel of St Anne.
Road access
From Ajaccio, take the road N193 and at the last roundabout continue driving towards Bastia. After about ten kilometres, take the junction towards Carbuccia and follow the road panels to reach the village's railway station, where you can park your car.
It is also possible to reach this village by train. The train is an ideal and original way to discover the island: from the hinterland to the coast
Itinerary
This is a quite easy and shady walk, although the path is sometimes rather rocky. The starting point is indicated by a panel located at the edge of the D129 road, the same panel which indicates the walk from the train station to the village of Carbuccia. This walk will allow you to walk on an old mule track which connects the village of Carbuccia to the village of Peri and to discover Corsica's natural heritage thanks to twelve information panels.
At the beginning, the path climbs gradually into the wood, where you will find the first two information panels: a carbunaghja (the coal mine) and a leccia suvarina (the cork oak). Take a moment to read them and then continue your walk until you reach a small bridge that allows you to cross the small river. After a short walk, you should take a moment to read the four information panels along the way: l'acqua è a furesta (water and forest), la circulation de la sève (the circulation of sap in trees), la naissance et l’évolution de la yeuseraie (the birth and evolution of the oak forest) and i furnacci (the brick kilns).
Continue walking following the yellow signposts until you reach the information panel le système racinaire (the root system). Do not hesitate to leave the main path to have a look at two other information panels: les essences forestières (tree species) et u castagnu (the chestnut tree). Return to the main path to finish your walk and to discover the last three panels: les différents ports de l'arbre (the habit of trees), quelques plantes et essences du maquis (the undergrowth and the Corsican maquis) et le paysage (the landscape).
