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Return to Catherine Lutz's story on Corsica

The Famous Maquis

The maquis is a broad collective term referring to any one of a group of wild plants native to Corsica. It can signify a flower, shrub, tree, even herbs. This scrubby growth covers about a third of Corsica, and its flowers can be almost any color, from white to various shades of pink and purple. Herbes de maquis are used in many Corsican dishes. Notoriously, maquis growth has effectively hidden independence fighters and outlaws.

Details about the Island
Length of ride: 250 miles
Difficulty: Moderate. The route is almost never flat, but the terrain guarantees as much downhill as up, and the climbs are usually not too long.
Where the area is: In the Mediterranean Sea, 110 miles south of France and 50 miles west of Italy. I cycled the northern half of the island in a roughly counter-lockwise circle.
What the best time to go: Summers are very hot, but the dry climate and constant sea breeze make for
pleasant cycling conditions. Late spring and early fall are good times to avoid most of the tourists, although that wasn't a big concern on my bicycle route, and infrastructure (campgrounds, hotels, restaurants) greatly improves in the summer months. Winds throughout the seasons can cause
fluctuations in climate, and the higher elevations are chilly with a chance of snow even in the summer.

How to get there: By airplane from most European cities to Ajaccio, Calvi or Bastia. By ferry from many harbors in Italy, Sardinia and France. The cost of living is comparable to much of southern Europe.
Campgrounds are plentiful and have many amenities, hotels in some areas are rare. Corsica is very safe
for travelers, even women alone, although common sense applies, like anywhere.