OT: Corsica, anyone?

[taz-t]

Has anyone had the opportunity to visit Corsica. Any recommendations, must see sights, etc? Not necessarily bike related...

I'll be there for a week as part of a 2 week vacation to France and know very little about the place. Any information very appreciated.

Thanks,
Taz

[Ozz]

:D
I believe the French Foreign Legion has a training facility there...beyond that, I am useless. :beer:

[Ken Robb]

My motorcycling pal John Hermann has written some books on m'cycling in the Alps and Corsica. He lists the neat hidden byways and passes and places to stay and eat that are good and cycle-friendly with the names of the proprietors. There is plenty of good info on the areas for cyclists with and without engines.

The latest version of his Motorcycling in the Alps can be bought from Whitehorse Press for sure, probably from Amazon and maybe at your local BMW Motorcycle dealer.

[edwardk]

I spent two weeks cycling in Corsica last summer. It was the best cycling vacation I've ever enjoyed. Corsica is a mountain range rising from the sea, so very little of it (other than the southeasternmost corner, around Porto Vecchio) is flat. The roads are well-graded, very small, and with the exception of the handful of main roads (e.g., the N route connecting Calvi and Bastia),not terribly busy -- at least early in the summer. The scenery is breathtaking, whether you are on the coast or inland.

I view Corsica as outdoor vacation heaven. It is weaker than, say, southern France (the mainland) on cultural activities. The hotels are a bit pricier, and great meals a little harder to find (again outside Porto Vecchio).

The new edition of the Rough Guide to Corsica is very helpful.

If you want to ride there, go over to http://www.alapage.com and order this book from the FFCT [the French national cyclotouring club]:

http://www.alapage.com/-/Recherche/?choix=fulltext&ap=1&pos=2&default=Titre%2C+auteur%2C+r%E9f%E9rence&type=1&fulltext=ffct+corse+velo&id=165591176931767&donnee_appel=ALAPAGE

With that guidebook and a good map (Michelin or IGN), you'll have no trouble figuring out great rides.

Good luck.

Ed Kleinbard

[ThasFACE]

All I know about Corsica is that a certain Laetitia Casta hails from there: http://members.fortunecity.com/telseth/biography.html

[taz-t]

I spent two weeks cycling in Corsica last summer. It was the best cycling vacation I've ever enjoyed. Corsica is a mountain range rising from the sea, so very little of it (other than the southeasternmost corner, around Porto Vecchio) is flat. The roads are well-graded, very small, and with the exception of the handful of main roads (e.g., the N route connecting Calvi and Bastia),not terribly busy -- at least early in the summer. The scenery is breathtaking, whether you are on the coast or inland.

I view Corsica as outdoor vacation heaven. It is weaker than, say, southern France (the mainland) on cultural activities. The hotels are a bit pricier, and great meals a little harder to find (again outside Porto Vecchio).

The new edition of the Rough Guide to Corsica is very helpful.

If you want to ride there, go over to http://www.alapage.com and order this book from the FFCT [the French national cyclotouring club]:

http://www.alapage.com/-/Recherche/?choix=fulltext&ap=1&pos=2&default=Titre%2C+auteur%2C+r%E9f%E9rence&type=1&fulltext=ffct+corse+velo&id=165591176931767&donnee_appel=ALAPAGE

With that guidebook and a good map (Michelin or IGN), you'll have no trouble figuring out great rides.

Good luck.

Ed Kleinbard

Thanks Ed. I picked up the Rough Guide. Don't know if I'll get to ride. Not shipping our bikes over so we'll have to see what's available locally. Think we'll try to rent some scooters and explore if we can't find suitable bicycles. I believe we're staying in the North end with just day trips south. Any cafes, restaurants, etc you can recommend?

We'll be in Nice and Villefranche a few days also.

- Taz

[julia]

we did a trip on corsica last year - a highlight for andy was dinner at a restaurant owned by jacques anquetil's daughter. there doesn't seem to be a direct link to it, but it's buried in here somewhere along with a lot of other good info about places to stay:

http://www.corsica-isula.com/accommodation.htm

if you want details, pm me and i'll get them for you from andy

cheers,
julia

[edwardk]

Taz --

If you're in the north, you'll find Cap Corse to be really spectacular. Splurge on dinner at Le Pirate in Erbalunga, just north of Bastia. There's a nice little hotel there as well (Hotel Castel Brando).

http://www.restaurantlepirate.com

It was probably the best meal I had on Corsica.

Good luck.

Ed