Attractions and Places To See around Erbajolo - Top 20

The Belvedere of Corte is a viewpoint near the Corsican town of Corte, offering breathtaking views of the Citadel of Corte and the surrounding Restonica Valley. From this elevated position, you can admire the beauty of the Corsican landscape in all its glory. **View:** The panoramic view includes the historic citadel, which rises majestically on a hill, as well as the verdant, river-laced Restonica Valley. On clear days, the view extends far beyond the town, and you can explore the vastness of the Corsican landscape. **Access:** The Belvedere is relatively easy to access. There are several paths leading to the viewpoint, some of which are well-maintained and suitable for walkers. The hike there is a beautiful nature outing in itself. **Activities:** In addition to simply enjoying the view, the Belvedere is an ideal spot for photography. The breathtaking landscape offers countless opportunities for impressive photos. It's also a perfect spot for a relaxing picnic. It's advisable to bring weatherproof clothing, as the weather can change quickly in the mountains. **Additional Information:** There is no direct parking near the Belvedere; you'll need to park a little further away and take a short walk. The surrounding area is beautiful and offers further opportunities for hiking and exploring nature. The best time to visit is on a clear day to fully enjoy the view.

Very nice with its panoramic view next to the citadel

Corte is located on a high plateau at an altitude of 436 m at the confluence of the Restonica and Tavignano rivers. It has 7,654 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2021) and is the seat of the sub-prefecture of the arrondissement of the same name.

On his way to England, Paoli was received and honored throughout Europe as a freedom hero. He met, among others, Joseph II and Goethe, who later described this encounter in Poetry and Truth:[2] Paoli's life was characterized by the fight for the goal of a united Corsican nation. To this end, he entered into changing alliances with France and England and maintained contacts with Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Frederick the Great, Catherine II of Russia, the Pope, the young United States of America, the Turkish Sultan and the Bey of Tunis.

Pasquale Paoli was born in 1725 in Stretta in the municipality of Morosaglia on Corsica. His father, General Giacinto Paoli, was a kind of prime minister in the short-lived Kingdom of Corsica under King Theodore I of Corsica and went into exile in Naples in 1739 with his youngest son Pasquale. In 1755, Paoli returned to Corsica as a 30-year-old ensign in the King's Corsican Guard and fought the Genoese as commander at the head of the Corsican guerrilla. He managed to drive them out of the interior and trap them in a few port cities. In the same year, Paoli gave Corsica a democratic constitution and temporarily governed Corsica. He made Corte the capital. Among other things, he was friends with the Buonaparte family, who fought with him against the Corsican enemy Marius Matra. Carlo di Buonaparte, Napoleon's father, worked on a Corsican constitution and became Paoli's right-hand man. When the Genoese handed the island over to France on May 15, 1768 until it was redeemed, Paoli fought the French. In 1768, the French, who had landed with 10,000 men, had to withdraw. A year later, however, 22,000 men landed under the leadership of the Comte de Vaux and defeated the Corsicans in the Battle of Ponte Novu on May 9, 1769. Paoli laid down his arms and chose exile. In 1790, the revolutionary National Assembly decided on the final annexation of Corsica to France.

The Corte Citadel is the only major military fortress in the interior. The rocky outcrop was already fortified in the 9th century. However, the castle was not built until 1419 under the Corsican adventurer Vincentello d'Istria, Viceroy of Aragon. The "Eagle's Nest", the southern tip of the rocky outcrop, is particularly impressive. It can be reached via a staircase made of "Restonica marble". Inside the citadel there were originally small houses and a chapel. Louis XV and then Louis XVI changed this part and started building the barracks. But it was only under Louis Philippe that the fortress took on its final appearance. The houses and the chapel were destroyed and the residents were housed in the "Lubiacce", the "building of the 100 residents". The military buildings initially provided accommodation for the garrison and were then converted into a prison for political prisoners. During the First World War, German prisoners of war were housed there, and during the Second World War, Corsican patriots were held prisoner under Italian occupation. From 1962, after the end of the Algerian War, the Foreign Legion was stationed there. Since the legionaries left in 1983, the site has belonged to the city of Corte. The facilities can be visited: from the "Eagle's Nest" you have a wonderful view of the surrounding area. Today, the citadel houses the national park office, a museum of Corsican history and university facilities.

Superb place, be careful to take good hiking shoes. Not to be done in wet weather, the descent will be dangerous.

Corte is a city well worth seeing. The citadel towers above everything.