L’Agriate

Between the Ostriconi site and the Gulf of San Fiurenzu – St Florent, the Agriate region stretches across a landscape where nature has been left untouched by humankind. Long rocky ridges, expanses covered in maquis and an almost untouched coastline make up this truly unique landscape. Largely protected by the Conservatoire du Littoral and forming part of the Parcu naturale marinu di u Capicorsu è di l’Agriate – the Cap Corse and Agriate Marine Nature Park – this site can be explored on foot, by boat or along the trails, in an environment that has remained largely unspoilt.

Getting there

A land left to the scrub and the wind

Although often referred to as a ‘desert’, the Agriate is in fact nothing like a desert in the strict sense of the word. This area, covering some 15,000 hectares, is in reality a succession of hills, valleys and plateaus covered in dense Mediterranean scrub. The only sand to be found here is in the coves and on the beaches, which invite visitors to relax and enjoy the scenery.

Once farmed by farmers and herdsmen from neighbouring villages, it was long traversed by herds and used for growing cereals or vines. Now almost uninhabited, Agriate offers a sense of vastness and solitude that is rare on the Corsican coast. From the ridges, the view plunges towards the sea and rises towards the mountains inland, revealing a landscape where nature has gradually reclaimed its place.

A protected coastline

The Agriate coastline stretches for nearly 37 kilometres of unspoilt shoreline, dotted with secluded rocky coves and long sandy beaches – such as Saleccia and Le Lotu – which have become must-visit destinations during the summer season. Since 1979, the Conservatoire du Littoral has acquired several thousand hectares in order to preserve these landscapes and ensure their natural development, far from the hustle and bustle of tourism.

The waters borderingthe Agriate are also part of the Parcu naturale marinu di u Capicorsu è di l’Agriate, established in 2016 to better protect marine habitats and support activities such as small-scale fishing and water sports.

Beneath the surface, Posidonia seagrass beds, rocky plateaus and sandy seabeds are home to a wide variety of marine species in need of protection.

An experience of unspoilt nature

The Agriate must be discovered slowly. The paths and tracks that wind through the maquis lead to abandoned sheepfolds and panoramic views where the horizon is the only boundary. The silence of the most inaccessible landscapes, and the scents of rockrose, myrtle and mastic, accompany you as you walk along the customs officers’ path. To venture there is to embark on a gruelling three-day trek with no shade and no drinking water. The coves and beaches then become rewards to be savoured to the full, in spring or autumn.

More than just a place, Agriate is a region where one can appreciate the power of a landscape that has remained largely untouched and the importance of maintaining that balance between exploration and conservation, especially during periods of high tourist numbers.