Can you walk around freely on the Pietra Islands?

The footpath allows visitors to walk across Petra Island as far as the lighthouse. However, not all the islets are accessible: some areas are deliberately kept off the beaten track to protect the natural habitats and wildlife. The designated paths allow visitors to explore the site whilst minimising the impact of foot traffic on the most fragile areas.

Can you visit the Pietra lighthouse?

The lighthouse is still in operation and access to the interior is not freely open to the public. At present, occasional openings may be organised, particularly for guided tours or heritage events. The area surrounding the lighthouse remains accessible via the promenade. For a tour of the interior, please check with the L’Ile-Rousse Balagne Tourist Office or consult the cultural calendar for details of organised events.

Are the Pietra Islands accessible to people with reduced mobility?

The footpaths were upgraded as part of the restoration work to improve access and the visitor experience. However, the route does involve a climb up to the lighthouse, and the nature of the site imposes certain constraints.

The Pietra Islands

The Pietra Islands are a group of small islets of red porphyry that can be seen on the horizon, at the tip of L’Isula – L’Ile-Rousse. The ochre rock lies almost bare here, set amongst the vegetation of the maquis and panoramic views of the Mediterranean. Owned by the Conservatoire du Littoral, the islands have a history far older than that of the city of Saint Paul. From their Neolithic occupation right up to their restoration in 2024, the Pietra Islands bear the marks of L’Isula’s history.

Getting there

The Pietra Islets

The Pietra Islands are made up of granite rock formed from molten magma in ancient times.

Although they are commonly referred to as the Pietra Islands, each of the eight islets has its own name. The first, which can be seen after crossing the bridge, is called Saletta, followedby E Petre, consisting of three rocks. Next comes IsulaGrande, also known as A Petra, where the lighthouse and the tower are situated. Alongside it, the islets of Rocciu, Isula Piana and Rucettu make upthis small archipelago, which was gradually connected to the shore through urban development as the area evolved.

The earliest traces of settlement date back to the Neolithic period. Archaeological research on the island of A Petra has revealed the remains of a semi-permanent settlement dating from the 6th millennium BCE, considered to be the oldest known in Corsica. At that time, the sea level was approximately 7 metres lower and the islets formed a peninsula.

A strategic natural shelter

The location of the Pietra Islands explains their role in the history of the Balagne coastline from very early on. Their strategic position allowed them to keep watch over the Balagne coast and provided a natural shelter for sailors. Barbary pirates also sought refuge there and prepared their attacks on the region during the Middle Ages. In the 17th century, the Genoese administration decided to erect a watchtower there to protect trade. Now under defence, the site developed in step with the agricultural boom in the Balagne. This strategic position prompted Pasquale Paoli, founder of L’Isula, to turn it into a major port in order to counter Genoese interests in Calvi.

The Pietra Islands have thus evolved throughout the history of the town of L’Isula and have undergone numerous transformations. A chapel dedicated to Santa Agata was once built there, of which no trace remains, and, below the lighthouse, the remains of the old customs house can still be seen. Not to mention the Pietra lighthouse, built in the 19th century, which continues to stand proudly on the islands.

A landscape worth protecting

Linked to the mainland by 19th-century harbour developments, the Pietra Islandshave gradually changed in appearance. The proximity of the town and the harbour, transport links, car parks and high visitor numbers have transformed certain areas, whilst witch’s claws, an invasive species, have taken over much of the site’s natural areas. The restoration project, led by the Conservatoire du littoral over a two-year period and completed in 2024, sought to restore a more natural character to the site: ecological and landscape restoration, the reintroduction of native vegetation, better-integrated footpaths, the reorganisation of previously developed areas, the restoration of the lighthouseand the enhancement of the heritage.

In this rocky landscape, where soil is scarce, halophilic coastal meadows (which are adapted to iodine-rich conditions) still remain, alongside sea fennel, everlasting, sea lavender and tamarisk; underwater, Posidonia seagrass beds extend this natural environment. The fauna remains elusive but includes several remarkable species: the giant limpet still lives at the foot of the Pietra, whilst the islet of U Rocciu is home to the European phyllodactyl, a small gecko native to the western Mediterranean that has disappeared from the islands now connected to the mainland. Out at sea, blue and white dolphins and other large marine mammals can also be spotted.

Practical information

Find out more

Can you walk around freely on the Pietra Islands?
Can you visit the Pietra lighthouse?
The lighthouse is still in operation and access to the interior is not freely open to the public. At present, occasional openings may be organised, particularly for guided tours or heritage events. The area surrounding the lighthouse remains accessible via the promenade. For a tour of the interior, please check withthe L’Ile-Rousse Balagne Tourist Office or consultthe cultural calendar for details of organised events.
Are the Pietra Islands accessible to people with reduced mobility?