Pianello: Chestnut Grove, Hiking Trails and Chapels

The centuries-old chestnut grove, named hiking trails and historic chapels give Pianello several points of interest: nature, pastoral traditions and local history.

Chestnut Grove at the Village Entrance

The Pianellu chestnut grove lies at the village entrance and covers 60 hectares. Its chestnut trees are up to 700 years old; some have a trunk circumference of 13 metres. The Sentier de Pianellu / Villages trail passes through the centuries-old grove. This trail thus connects the landscape directly with one of Pianello’s characteristic natural features.

The chestnut grove is not signposted. Its access point is before the village in the direction of Zalana; bringing an IGN map is recommended. Check access conditions before your visit. Information and access arrangements may change, so it is advisable to plan how you will find your way for your specific visit.

Hiking Trails with Different Highlights

On the Sentier de Pianellu / Montagne, follow in the footsteps of shepherds and encounter local traditions and craftsmanship. The trail is classified as a PR. The Matra-Pianellu trail offers a connection with nature: along it, you can experience the surrounding flora and fauna. Trail conditions may vary.

The leg from I Penti to Pianellu can also be divided into more manageable sections for planning. The section from I Penti to Valle d’Alesani takes 4 hours, while the following section from Valle d’Alesani to Pianellu takes 4 hours and 30 minutes. The second part is therefore half an hour longer. These separate time estimates help you divide the leg into two manageable sections rather than treating both routes as the same length.

Another natural attraction, the Bravone waterfall in Pianellu, offers a place to relax. Check water conditions and safe access on site. The chestnut grove and trails offer different highlights: ancient trees in one case, pastoral traditions or flora and fauna in the other.

Chapelle San Petru and Local History

The Chapelle San Petru de Pianellu stands in the hamlet of Ostricacce. It is a pre-Romanesque chapel and was Pianello’s parish church until 1696. As a place of remembrance, it also commemorates the donation of the Mare e Stagnu land near Aleria to the municipality of Pianellu in 1703. The site thus brings together architectural history and a specific memory of the municipality.

A memorial at the chapel is also among the local traditions: candles are lit there on the eve of 29 June; the memorial is called I Sanghuvanni. If this date is important for your trip, confirm locally in advance whether it will take place.

For the San Vincentu celebration in Pianellu, the 2024 cultural programme listed a procession on 20 August from the Church of Sainte Cécile to the Chapel of Saint Vincent, followed by a solemn Mass. If you are planning a future trip, it is best to check that year’s programme rather than assume the event will be repeated.

Festa di A Muntagnera

At the 2024 Festa di A Muntagnera in U Pianellu, workshops were offered on tasting Corsican cheeses and pairing cheese with wine. The history of transhumance in Pianellu was also presented. The event thus brought together food and the history of seasonal shepherd migrations. If you would like to attend a future edition, check the programme for the relevant year.

Pianello therefore offers several specific points to consider when planning your trip: the chestnut grove and trails if you are interested in the landscape, the Chapelle San Petru and memorial days for local history, and festival themes centred on cheese, wine and transhumance. Which of these appeals to you most can guide your search for a hotel in Pianello.

Discover more destinations: Ersa, Biguglia, Vescovato, Matra, Bustanico, Isolaccio-Di-Fiumorbo, Loreto-Di-Casinca, Ghisonaccia.

For the regional travel overview: Haute-Corse.