Penta-di-Casinca in Zonza, the ten most beautiful villages of Corsica

Perched on a cliff to peak on a huge beach of black pebbles, the village of Nonza is one of the jewels of the Cap Corse . Its steep streets and steep, the beautiful tiling, lead to a superb tour paoline (not sponge cake), shale, erected in 1760, from which one enjoys a panoramic view that is breathtaking on the western shore of Cap Corse and the bay of Saint-Florent . At the centre of the village, a small square surrounded by plane trees and facing the church of Sainte-Julie (Sixteenth century), to the beautiful facade, the colour of blood and gold. The more courageous will take the stairs down to the beach.

Perched on the heights of the Balagne , in the hinterland of Calvi , this town with a refined charm, has experienced a spectacular renaissance thanks to artists and craftsmen who have settled there since the 1970s and are completely dedicated to the local life. The streets filled with flowers, the workshops of potters, of flûtiers, of ceramists, painters have popped up like mushrooms. Another attraction of Pigna: the music. The centre national de création musicale Voce offers year-round cultural events and concerts (corsican polyphony, but not only), that can be heard in the magnificent auditorium of the village, built in terracotta according to the traditional techniques.

Yet another jewel which the Balagne , nicknamed the "Luberon of Corsica", has the secret. This village of only 120 inhabitants is situated at 500 m of altitude, such as an eagle's nest overlooking the sea and the bay of Algajola , with a view to 360°. Its uniqueness? The old granite houses are arranged in concentric circles around the hill to form a bastion compact. The entire village was restored and the ride in the alleys labyrinthine is a delight of every moment. As for heritage, we will focus on the remains of the fortifications and the small chapel of Sainte-Anne-des-Shepherds.

In the preamble, a little exercise in the language: in the corsican language, Zonza is pronounced "tsonsz". Whatever the road (obviously winding) that has been borrowed, the arrival in this village crossroads, located at 784 m of altitude breath away. Emerging in the middle of forests of oaks, pines and chestnut trees, with the magnificent hands of Bavella in the background, Zonza is one of the towns most photogenic of the island. It is also an ideal base from which to explore the region of the Alta Rocca, is famous for its outdoor activities, including mountain BIKING, canyoning and climbing.

This is a needle hidden in a haystack. Away from the beaten track, this village is set in a corsican regional in character – Casinca , 25 km south of Bastia – is a revelation. Accessible by a narrow road and winding road (the D6 and then the D206), Penta-di-Casinca has a look that is harmonious, with its tall houses with roofs of green slate, on a hillside carpeted with dense vegetation and deep. A tip: go there in the late afternoon to enjoy the beautiful golden light and amazing views of the eastern plain and the Tyrrhenian sea.

Coup de coeur " for this port village that gives the impression of moving in an array of watercolour. To Centuri , one moves to the west coast of Cape Corsica, a coast deeply indented that provides spectacular views. The adorable little marina , full of nooks and crannies, and staircases, is lined with houses in neat walls, plastered and a row of fish restaurants whose terraces illuminate the port in the end of the day. On the docks are piled up fishing nets, mats colorful. Boats moored perpetuate the tradition capcorsine of fishing for lobster.

do You like olive oil? Mount to Sainte-Lucie-de-Tallano, in the back-country of the gulf of Valinco . This village is renowned for the quality of its oils with PDO, from a terroir generously planted with olive groves. To see: the eco-museum of the oil mill , which dates from the Nineteenth century. At the centre of the village are gathered all the components of the postcard of Corsica's rural: high granite houses, a tree-shaded plaza, a fountain and some cafes where gossip the former. To discover, a fortified tower of the Fifteenth century, and the convent of Saint Francis , in the Renaissance style, 1.5 km from the village.