Meria: Hiking, a Round Tower, and the Coast

When choosing Meria as a destination, it is worth first weighing up your travel interests: the marked circular trail appeals to hikers; historic buildings, Plage de Meria, and the producers’ market offer other attractions. This makes it easier to tailor your stay to hiking, architecture and history, or coastal and market experiences. When planning the details, different factors matter: for the route, its length, circular format, and difficulty; for access to the chapel, the path; and for the views, the time of year.

The circular trail to Caracu

The “Le village abandonné” hiking trail is an easy, yellow-marked circular route of 2.8 kilometres. It leads from the upper village to the abandoned hamlet of Caracu. Several aspects therefore matter when choosing it: its length, circular format, easy difficulty rating, and a named destination. Caracu gives the tour its theme, while the yellow trail marking is another specific feature of the route. If you assess a hike by whether it combines a clear route format with a destination, this trail offers exactly that combination.

The route follows a scenic balcony-like path. On a fine winter’s day, it offers views of the Corsican Channel and, in the distance, the Apennines. This adds a landscape dimension to the route: Caracu is the named destination, while the views take in two distinct distant landmarks. The reference to a fine winter’s day applies to these views and should be taken into account when planning for distant vistas.

The round tower and chapel

The Tour de Meria is a round tower built in the 16th century. The San Paolo Chapel is made of small stones and may date from the 9th century. These are two different kinds of dating claims: the tower’s construction is assigned to the 16th century, while the 9th century remains a possibility for the chapel. The chapel’s building material adds a specific architectural detail to this tentative date.

From the D35 towards Pastina, the chapel can be reached via a path that starts at an EDF pylon. The walk takes about ten minutes. Check the path conditions before visiting. Unlike the “Le village abandonné” circular trail, the approximate walking time is the practical measure here, whereas the hike is described by its 2.8-kilometre length and circular format.

Coast and market

Plage de Meria is located in Marine de Meria. This links the beach’s name to a specific place and makes the coast a factor in choosing a destination in its own right, alongside the hiking trail and historic buildings.

The Marché des producteurs de Meria takes place in the car park of Camping Aria Marina in Murteda. The market has Meria in its name, but its venue is in Murteda. When planning, it is therefore helpful to distinguish between the market’s name and its venue. If you want to visit the Marché des producteurs specifically, check the event dates in advance.

Discover more destinations: Occhiatana, Lavatoggio, Folelli, Algajola, Moriani-Plage, Castellare-Di-Casinca, Casamaccioli, San-Giuliano

Go to the regional travel overview: Haute-Corse.