Destination Guide

Things to Do & See in L'Extreme Sud

Porto Vecchio

Wander the ancient streets of Old Porto Vecchio, the Borgo, where you can see the enormous twisted tree of the Place de la Republique, the 19th century church of St-Jean Baptiste (left unfinished due to lack of funds) and the gallery housed within the Bastion di A Funtana Vechju which still has the hole made by Sampiero Corso when he captured the town in 1564. The old Genoese walled town still seduces visitors with its picturesque narrow streets and the austerity of its high stone houses that are set within the Citadel's ramparts. The streets are dotted with chic boutiques offering designer fashions and the very best local produce. Within a few minutes walk, the marina lined with cafés is an excellent place to enjoy a leisurely drink during those hot summer evenings. Also, try not to miss the wonderful choice of east coast beaches.

Bonifacio

Perched on a limestone pedestal, Bonifacio is one of the most spectacular towns in the Mediterranean. The Citadel walls and ancient houses appear to rise seamlessly out of sheer cliffs that have been hollowed and striated by the wind and waves. Beneath, an inlet about 100 metres wide forms a natural harbour, home to a buzzing port. Only 12 kilometres from Sardinia, the town is distinctly more Italian than French in atmosphere, and even has its own dialect based on Ligurian Italian.

There are also boat trips around the Grottes et Falaises (caves and cliffs) or to the Iles de Lavezzis which provide the opportunity to view the magnificent coastal rock formations from the sea. The cafés around the port are an excellent place to watch the world go by, and there are numerous restaurants. There's also a tiny but interesting Aquarium on the port which children and adults enjoy. Walk or take the tourist train from the port up to the old town at top of the hill. Look over the wall here and you'll see the grain de sable, a massive chunk of limestone cliff that's fallen into the sea, which is the subject of thousands of postcards. The steps here seem neverending but do lead down to a tiny scrap of beach where you can then turn left to start the clifftop walk.

Alternatively, you can drive up to the old town and leave the car in one of the car parks by the cemetery. From here it's a flatter walk into the old town, which is a delightful place to explore. The view from the cliffs is superb. You can visit the churches and ramparts with narrow streets full of shops and cafés. The marine cemetery at the far end of the cliff top by all the car-parks is much visited as it's full of extraordinarily elaborate mausoleums.

Ste Lucie de Tallano & Zoza rockpools

Most people love the sleepy little village of Ste Lucie de Tollano, with its grand old granite houses grouped around a picturesque square - la place du monument aux morts - looking over the valley of the Rizzanese River. From here it's only a short distance to the fabulous rock pools at Zoza. The sides of the river have flat rocks which are excellent for sunbathing, and the rock pools along the length of this stretch of the river provide tranquil and crystal-clear (if sometimes a little chilly) water in which to bathe.

Les Bains de Caldane near Ste Lucie

This is a small, open air, Roman bath in which you can relax, unwind and enjoy the views and a café for refreshments.

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