Vivario: Discover the Forest, Hiking Trails and Cultural Heritage

Vivario combines a forest landscape with hiking trails and historical sites. The Vizzavona Forest is part of Vivario and stretches from the Col de Vizzavona to Monte d’Oro. Its territory includes the hamlets of Tattone and Vizzavona. A large part of the forest helps protect Natura 2000 habitats. Laricio pines, beeches and cedars shape the surroundings of the village and its hamlets, with wild orchids growing among them.

Forest and Trails Around Vivario

The GR20 crosses the Vizzavona Forest via the Cascade des Anglais and the hamlet of Vizzavona. The trail to the Cascade starts at Vizzavona railway station, follows the GR20’s shaded forest track and crosses two footbridges. The Cascade des Anglais lies at an altitude of 1,092 metres. This route description gives you specific guidance for an outing to this destination without suggesting that the walk is a summit route.

The route to Monte d’Oro starts beside the chapel near Vizzavona railway station, at an altitude of 920 metres. The summit reaches 2,389 metres; the route is classified as difficult and has an elevation gain of 1,400 metres. This makes the summit route a different objective from the walk to the Cascade: summit altitude, difficulty and elevation gain are the key details to consider when planning.

The Sentier de Pasciola is a PR hiking trail. It starts in the Vizzavona Forest and leads to the Fortin de Pasciola and on to the village of Vivario. Possible starting points include the village itself, its railway station, or the stations at Tattone and Savaggio. This lets you choose from different starting points without confusing the trail with the GR20 route.

Another option is the trail through the Manganellu Valley. It follows the Manganellu River and passes numerous swimming spots. The starting point is the Pont de Mulinellu, two kilometres before the hamlet of Canaglia. There is a car park there, and parking at this location is recommended. The river and swimming spots define this route, while Monte d’Oro, with its summit and stated elevation gain, offers a different kind of outing.

Historical Sites in the Village and Forest

The Fortin de Pasciola was built in 1771. Its remains were designated a historic monument in 1977. Since the Sentier de Pasciola leads to the fort and continues into the village of Vivario, you can combine the hike with a visit to this historic site. In the heart of Vivario, you will also find the Church of Saint-Pierre-aux-Liens, with its classic three-storey bell tower.

The Notre-Dame-de-la-Forêt Chapel in Vizzavona is another named site in the forest area: a celebration of Notre-Dame du Mont-Carmel is held there on 16 July. Together, the church, fort and chapel offer different points of interest for travellers who want to explore Vivario’s cultural surroundings as well as its trails.

Seasonal Activities and Trip Planning

Depending on the season, activities in the Vizzavona Forest include a treetop adventure course, hiking, skiing, snowshoeing and sledging. The options range from trail activities to winter offerings; which ones suit your trip also depends on the time of year. If a particular activity is important to your plans, check in advance whether it is available during your visit.

Vizzavona Parc Aventure offers a four-hour adventure activity in the Vizzavona Forest near the Cascades des Anglais. Sporting activities include a treetop adventure course, canyoning, hiking, caving, via ferrata and mountain biking; some activities may be seasonal. The forest activity has a minimum age of three. Check the age requirement and your chosen activity with the provider in advance, as operator rules may change.

The Vizzavona Forest can be reached by car via the T20 or by train.

Discover more destinations: San-Giovanni-Di-Moriani, Venzolasca, Aléria, Barbaggio, Piana, Oletta, Poggio-Mezzana, Pietra-di-Verde.

For the wider travel guide: Haute-Corse.