Losari Conservation Area

L’Osari stretches along nearly 8 km of coastline, including around 2 km of sandybeach marked by the mouth of the Reginu. To the west, Punta Caggiola towers over the coastal scrub; to the east, the cliffs of Punta d’Arco plunge gracefully into the crystal-clear waters. Between these landforms, a mosaic of habitats unfolds to those whose curiosity takes them beyond the beach. The maquis, holm oaks and olive trees grow alongside sea grape and African tamarisk. The red kite, the red-backed shrike and the brown dragonfly find refuge here. Beneath the water’s surface, seagrass meadows and red coral reefs provide a home for the many species that can be peacefully observed on an exploratory outing. Those who love the first light of day may occasionally catch a glimpse of the distant silhouettes of sperm whales, dolphins and fin whales.

To discoverL’Osari is to journey through a landscape where history is etched into the scenery. From the Middle Ages onwards, the land here was worked by monastic communities. Later, it was the Genoese who transformed the site by building a watchtower on the coast. At the start of the 20th century, the site became the property of the L’Isula hotel company– L’Ile-Rousse, owner of the Hôtel Napoléon on Place Paoli, which then developed the land behind the beach and established agricultural activities to supply the luxury establishment.

When the Conservatoire du Littoral acquired the site in 2010, the aim was to restore the landscape’s natural balance, which had been lost due to the impact of tourism, whilst preserving traces of the past: areas overgrown with witch’s claws and other succulents are being restored with endemic species; access is organised via footpaths; and heritage remains, such as the Notre-Dame de L’Osari chapel and the Genoese tower – now open to the public – have been restored.