The Aiguilles de Bavella, a Corsica that looks like nothing else

On the map, Bavella is just one pass among others on the road between Zonza and Solenzara. In real life, it’s the kind of place where you park the car thinking “just a quick stop” and leave three hours later.

The pass and its needles

The Aiguilles de Bavella (the “needles of Bavella”) are peaks of pink granite that rise abruptly above the forest of laricio pines. The contrast with the rest of the Corsica we had seen until then is striking: you could almost be in the Dolomites, with the scent of the maquis as a bonus.

The trail we took

From the pass, a waymarked trail leads to the Trou de la Bombe, a natural arch pierced through the rock. Allow about 2 hrs 30 round trip, with a bit of a climb at the end. Nothing technical, but good shoes are no luxury.

For practical information on the trails in the area (waymarking, difficulty, walking times), the website of the Parc naturel régional de Corse remains the most reliable reference.

Where to eat on the spot

A shepherd’s farm just below the pass also serves meals: Corsican charcuterie and cheese, nothing more, but after the walk that’s more than enough.

The verdict

We had planned twenty minutes of photos from the car park. We left at sunset, convinced that Bavella deserves half a day to itself in any Corsican itinerary.