Hiking at Mont Gozzi in Appietto

A must-do walk near Ajaccio

Monte Gozzi is a sheer red granite rock dominating the plain at an altitude of 700 metres. It can be seen from the villages of Afa, Sarrola, Alata, Cuttoli and Appietto. The trail starts at the Chapelle San Chirgu, 5 minutes from the village of Appietto and 30 minutes from Ajaccio. You'll have no trouble parking there, and you'll see the village take shape as you climb.

A 30-40 minute walk will take you to the top of Mont Gozzi, which offers panoramic views over the entire plain and the Gulf of Ajaccio. It takes a good hour to make the round trip, which is around 6km.

Difficulty of the route

The proposed route does not present any great difficulty, except for young children and those lacking in fitness. It's a well-maintained dirt path through scrubland, with some rocky sections that require good footwear. After a steep ascent, which will prove to be the only difficulty, you'll reach the rock face on level ground.

Be careful on the rock - especially for children and pets - which is on the side of a cliff, with a 300 metre drop-off, not recommended for people with vertigo.

Bring your ownwater.

Paragliding runway - Maisonnette - Castellu di Gozzi

As you hike along, you come across a small paragliding runway, two streams that may be dry depending on the season, and a small hut at the summit, which must have been used as a sheepfold. From here, turn right to reach the rock.

The dilapidated walls around the rock are the remains of Castellu di Gozzi, a feudal castle that housed the seigneuries around the 11th century.

IGN map and altitude difference - Monte Gozzi