By no means is Corsica famous for its chemin de fer but it should be! Opened in 1888 U Trinighellu - 'little railway' as it is known locally - connects Bastia, Ajaccio, Ile Rousse and Calvi and runs for some 232kms. It really ought to feature in one of those TV programmes about great engineering endeavour with its thirty plus tunnels and no end of bridges and viaducts. These enable the line to climb up from the coast to the high point of 900m at Vizzavona.
The photograph shows Corsica's longest viaduct measuring 171m. It's a 'monument historique' called Le Pont Eiffel after the great Gustave Eiffel who constructed it in the early 1890s just a few years after finishing the tower in Paris. The line also runs along the coast between Calvi and Ile Rousse, in many places right next to the sea, and is a good way to explore one or two of the less accessible beaches such as Bodri, Davia and Sant Ambroggio.
Now it's important to note that bikes are not allowed on the trains. It's just a practicallity as there just isn't the space on these two carriage rail cars. Having said that I would highly recommend the section from Ponte Leccia or Corte to Vizzavona where the station is nestled in the forest. This is a beautiful spot with one or two places to eat and drink or stay, such as the hotel Monte d'Oro From here there are great walks in and around the forest and the GR20 passes by so there's also the option to get to some of the higher ground such as Monte d'Oro (2,389m).
If you're a group or family of riders and non riders why not park up at Corte station and meet at Vizzavona for lunch. It's a 35km ride from Corte to Vizzavona and an hour on the train.
You can find all you need to know at Le Train Corse website.
The photograph shows Corsica's longest viaduct measuring 171m. It's a 'monument historique' called Le Pont Eiffel after the great Gustave Eiffel who constructed it in the early 1890s just a few years after finishing the tower in Paris. The line also runs along the coast between Calvi and Ile Rousse, in many places right next to the sea, and is a good way to explore one or two of the less accessible beaches such as Bodri, Davia and Sant Ambroggio.
Now it's important to note that bikes are not allowed on the trains. It's just a practicallity as there just isn't the space on these two carriage rail cars. Having said that I would highly recommend the section from Ponte Leccia or Corte to Vizzavona where the station is nestled in the forest. This is a beautiful spot with one or two places to eat and drink or stay, such as the hotel Monte d'Oro From here there are great walks in and around the forest and the GR20 passes by so there's also the option to get to some of the higher ground such as Monte d'Oro (2,389m).
If you're a group or family of riders and non riders why not park up at Corte station and meet at Vizzavona for lunch. It's a 35km ride from Corte to Vizzavona and an hour on the train.
You can find all you need to know at Le Train Corse website.
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