Corte
Corte is Corsica's historic capital, a mountain town built on a rocky spur where the Tavignano and Restonica rivers meet. A citadel stands above it, and a road runs into the Restonica valley's pools and high lakes.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Corte is a town in the center of Corsica, in the Haute-Corse department of France. It is the island's historic and cultural capital. From about 1755 to 1769, Pasquale Paoli made it the capital of independent Corsica, and his government sat in the citadel above the old town. Joseph Bonaparte, Napoleon's eldest brother, was born here on 7 January 1768.
Corte suits travelers who want mountains and a small-town pace more than a beach holiday. Walks start from town, and a narrow road, the D 623, runs up the Restonica valley to the Grottelle sheepfolds. Above about 1,100 m the ground is rocky and partly bare, so high routes need suitable clothing. Trains from the station run to Ajaccio, Bastia and Calvi, and the nearest commercial airport is Bastia-Poretta, about 52 km north-east. Plan two or three days for the town, the citadel and one valley walk. Lac de Melo, at 1,711 m, stays frozen for five to six months a year, so late spring to early autumn suits the high walks best.
Corte in five
- Take the Corsican railway if you do not driveThe meter-gauge line links Corte with Bastia and Ajaccio, so you can reach the town without a car. A rental car only becomes necessary for the trailheads up the valleys.
- Rent a car for the Restonica valleyThe road up the Restonica is narrow and the trailheads sit well outside town. Collect a car in Bastia or Ajaccio, and check the valley's current parking and access rules before you drive up.
- Climb to the citadel before the afternoon heatThe citadel and the museum of Corsica inside it sit above the old town. Go early in summer, when the stone steps and the Place Gaffory below warm up fast.
- Book the ferry before you book CorteMost visitors reach Corsica by ferry from Marseille, Nice or Toulon, or by air to Bastia or Ajaccio. Sort the crossing first, because summer sailings with a car sell out well ahead.Corsica travel guide
- Plan hikes around the weather, not the calendarHigher trails keep snow into late spring, and afternoon storms build in summer. Start early, carry water and check the forecast for the valley you plan to enter.
Need to know
- Airport
- Bastia-Poretta (BIA) or Ajaccio (AJA), about 1.5–2 hours by road or rail
- Getting there
- Corsican railway from Bastia or Ajaccio; ferries to the island; car
- Getting around
- On foot in town; a car or taxi for the Restonica and Tavignano valleys
- Best base
- Old town for the citadel; a valley guesthouse for early hikes
- Time needed
- 1–2 days, 3 with a long valley hike
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCold, snow above
- FebruaryCold, quiet
- MarchCool, trails wet
- AprilSpring, snow melt
- MayMild, green
- JuneWarm, hiking
- JulyHot, busy
- AugustHot, busy
- SeptemberWarm, calmer
- OctoberMild, colors
- NovemberCool, wet
- DecemberCold, quiet
Right now in Corte
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
10
- Feels like
- 8°
- Humidity
- 73%
- Wind
- 5 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 15%
Corte
09:46 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today13°7°15%Monday: Cloudy. High 13°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 15%.
- Tue16°7°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed15°7°18%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 18%.
- Thu13°10°84%Thursday: Rain. High 13°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 84%.
- Fri14°9°54%Friday: Fog. High 14°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 54%.
- Sat15°6°19%Saturday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 19%.
- Sun16°10°20%Sunday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 20%.
Updated 07:28 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Restonica valleyabout 20 min by car to the trailheadsGranite gorges, pools and the start of lake hikes above town.
- Tavignano valleyabout 15 min by car or on foot from townA quieter river walk that climbs toward the high lakes.
- Ajaccioabout 2 hours by trainThe southern capital, reached on the same railway.Read the guide
- Bastiaabout 1.5 hours by trainThe northern port, with an old harbor and ferries to the mainland.Read the guide
Before you go to Corte
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Corte, checked
- Carry a valid passport. Non-EU visitors should check current Schengen entry rules for their nationality before traveling.Source
- Forests around Corte are mainly conifers, especially pine laricio. Check local notices before lighting any fire outdoors.
- Above about 1,100 m the terrain is rocky and partly bare, and the forest limit sits at about 1,750 to 1,800 m. Carry layers for high routes.
- The Restonica road (D 623) is narrow and ends at the Grottelle sheepfolds. Drive slowly and leave room for walkers and livestock.
- For police, fire or an ambulance, dial 112, the EU emergency number that works across France.
Plan around Corte
Regions, cities and how to plan the whole trip
Read the guideCorsica travel guideThe island, ferries and the main towns
Read the guideAjaccioNapoleon's birthplace on the west coast
Read the guideBastiaThe northern port and railway terminus
Read the guideTransport tipsRenting a car, trains and ferries
Read the guideCorte FAQ
Is Corte worth visiting?
Yes if you want mountains, a walkable citadel town and a quieter side of Corsica. It has no beach, so pair it with a coastal stop in Calvi, Ajaccio or Bonifacio.
How many days do you need in Corte?
One night covers the citadel and a short valley walk. Two or three nights suit hikers who want a full day in the Restonica or Tavignano. Beyond that, move on to the coast.
Can you reach Corte without a car?
Yes. The island railway stops in Corte on the Bastia–Ajaccio line, and taxis or seasonal shuttles serve some trailheads. Check the current timetable on the railway's official site before planning around a specific train.
Is Corte a day trip from Bastia or Ajaccio?
It can be, by train in about 1.5–2 hours each way, but that leaves little time for a hike. An overnight stay gives you an early start in the valley.
When is the best time to hike near Corte?
Late May to June and September to early October are the usual picks, with warm days and fewer crowds. July and August are hot and busy, and high routes can hold snow in spring.