Discover Zonza

Zonza brings together Corsican local history and culture with hiking destinations in the Aiguilles de Bavella area. If you are looking for a hotel in Zonza, these different interests can shape your travel plans: in the village, granite houses and museums tell stories of history and culture; near Bavella, trails with varying levels of difficulty are available. Comparing hikes by time required and character is particularly helpful.

Hiking near Bavella: trails and time required

The Aiguilles de Bavella massif towers above the pass of the same name at an altitude of 1,218 metres. The seven main peaks include the group known as the «Sept Tours d’Asinau». Hiking trails accessible from Bavella are considered to vary in difficulty. One marked, challenging option for experienced hikers is the alpine variant of the GR20: it crosses technical sections secured with a steel cable and offers panoramic views.

For this variant, you can distinguish between two time estimates: about four hours for the round trip to Punta di u Pargulu, and about seven hours for the full loop along the alpine variant. Another hike is U TAFONU DI U CUMPULEDDU – TROU DE LA BOMBE. It is considered easy, takes about three hours, and involves 200 metres of ascent and 200 metres of descent. Near Bavella, the route passes through a Laricio pine forest to a natural feature formed by erosion. This means that an easy-rated hike is contrasted with two longer time estimates for the alpine GR20 variant.

You can also factor the seasonal journey to Bavella into your plans: you can park in Viseo and use the summer shuttle service; there is also a paid car park directly in Bavella. Check the seasonal arrangements before you set off.

Local history and culture in Zonza

The village of Zonza has been built on terraces since the 17th century. Old granite houses stand on boulders and overlook the Asinao valley. Religious buildings also reflect different architectural influences: the Church of Santa Maria Assunta is Neo-Gothic. The isolated Chapelle Sainte-Barbe in the Santa-Barbara district is made of granite and rubble stone; the Santa-Barbara chapel is part of Zonza’s Romanesque historical heritage.

The Musée de la Résistance corse in the village centre is devoted exclusively to the history of Corsica during the Second World War and gives particular prominence to the resistance fighters of Alta Rocca. Its collection comprises 130 objects and documents. It also features five multimedia presentations in French, Corsican, English and Italian. The museum thus offers a specific focus on Corsican history, while the village streetscape and churches provide further insights into local history.

Horse racing in summer

The Hippodrom de Viseo is located in Zonza at an altitude of about 950 metres, among Laricio pines, and is considered Europe’s highest racecourse. Every summer it becomes a venue for a popular festival; five horse races are held there between late June and late August. The dates and programme may vary from year to year. If you would like to include a race in your trip, check the event dates for your travel dates.

Hiking, culture and horse racing each offer a different focus: for the hikes, the stated time requirements and the character of each route are particularly useful; the museum and historic buildings offer insights into Zonza’s history and architecture.

Discover more destinations: Alata, Vico, Pinarellu, Cauro, Aullène, Olmiccia, Casalabriva, San-Gavino-Di-Carbini.

For the regional travel overview: Corse-Du-Sud.