Roussillon and Corsica

Way there | Roussillon | South Corsica | Upper Corsica | Way back

At spring 2001 I went to the wedding of my friend Christiane to Banyuls-sur-Mer in Roussillon. I decided to combine it to a field trip to Corsica which I had to do for my geography studies. Report of the excursion is available in the net but unfortunately only in Finnish.

Way there

Katja, a fellow geographer, was leaving for Italy the same day that one I was for France. Hence we decided to travel together: Viking Line ferry from Turku to Stockholm and by rail toward south. We spent May, 9th - the Europe Day - mostly in train in several European countries. It was in Basel, Switzerland where we left each other.

Katja in train from Stockholm to Malmö
Photo by: NL | All rights reserved ©

On board of ship from Rødby to Puttgarten
Photo by: Anon. | All rights reserved ©

Geneva, Switzerland
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Lyon, France
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Roussillon

After two nights in train I arrived to Perpignan early in the morning. I could have made it faster but I prefered to have some stops on the way. While waiting for my next train I had time to watch ceiling of the railway station which was painted by Salvador Dalí.

Perpignan railway station
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Argelès-sur-Mer
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Way leading to Argelès beach and ChristianeŽs hotel
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Banyuls-sur-Mer
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

The wedding ceremony was at Banyuls-sur-Mer City Hall on Saturday May 12th
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Christiane with Jean-Louis and Eden
Photo by: NL | All rights reserved ©

Eden and Stéphanie in the following day
Photo by: NL | All rights reserved ©

Eden in a carousel
Photo by: NL | All rights reserved ©

Pony riding
Photo by: NL | All rights reserved ©

South Corsica

From Roussillon I took a train to Toulon where I continued to Ajaccio, Corsica, by ferry. There I rented a car to conveniently explore the island. The car also served as my primary accommodation during my one-week stay in Corsica.

Map showing my journey in Corsica
Map: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

City of Ajaccio by the sea
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

A street view in Ajaccio
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Coti-Chiavari village next to which I spent my first night in Corsica
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

More photos from Coti-Chiavari

Tourists sightseeing
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Propriano
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Lunch break at Ermitage de la Trinité chapel near town of Bonifacio
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Ferries to Sardegna in the port of Bonifacio
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

After leaving Bonifacio I headed toward villages and mountains in the interior of the island. I also made a short walk to waterfall of Piscia di Gallo.

Ospedale forest
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Ospedale reservoir
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Piscia di Gallo waterfall
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Landscape by the track to the waterfall
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

I spent my night near the village of Moca. Next day I headed further north.

The central square of Moca
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Nearby Croce village
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

More photos from Moca and Croce

Tolla village and reservoir by river Prunelli
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Mountains close to Bastelica village
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

A wild boar in Col de Scalella pass
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

The road on the northern slope was not in very good condition
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Mountain scenery by the national road that traverses the island
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Upper Corsica

My next stop was town of Aléria on the east coast of Corsica. For the night I went to city of Corte in the interior. For the coming day I left the car in parking and took a train to visit Bastia.

Roman ruins in Aléria
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Aléria beach
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Sheeps on the road to Corte
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Corte railway station
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Flag of Corsica in the ancient battleground of Ponte Nuovo
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Train on the bridge over river Golo
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

I spent the night next to the cemetery of Venzolasca village. Both Venzolasca and neighbouring Vescovato are extremely beautiful villages and I have no idea why I did not take any photos. Instead I went to Borgo and further north to Cap Corse peninsula.

Bastia by night as seen from Borgo
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Drying laundry in Borgo
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

More photos from Borgo

Saint Florent town on the north coast of Corsica
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

French name of the town was not visible anymore
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

West coast of Cap Corse near Nonza village
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Nonza beach
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

I climbed up to Seneca's tower to read for my phenomenology exam
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Views from the tower
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Wind power plants
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

The following day I came to Bastia again. As I was in need of decent shower I took a hotel room. Next morning I returned the car to Bastia airport and took train to visit Calvi.

Bastia
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Central square of Bastia
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Calvi
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Ruins of what was alleged to be the birthplace of Christopher Columbus
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Ship in front of Calvi
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

The way back

When I returned from Calvi to Bastia I took a night ferry to Toulon and a train further to Avignon where I had a meeting with some young politicians. From Avignon I travelled by train to Stockholm and took a ferry to Turku. The last etape from Turku to Helsinki I went by train.

Avignon and the Rhône
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Ancient Palace of the Popes
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Viking Line ferry in the port of Mariehamn, Åland
Photo by: NL | License: Creative Commons by-nc-sa

Photographers

NL = Niko Lipsanen
Anon. = Unknown person on the ferry