Sentier de la Transhumance

Sentier de la Transhumance is a shorter alternative to GR 20. It starts in Calenzana, traverses the highest range on Corsica and ends at Corscia south of Monte Cinto. The trek can be done from June to September in five days with hiking times from 5 to 6 hours.

Map of the Sentier de la Transhumance

The map below shows the Transhumance route in green with red markers indicating important waypoints. Notice that the Sentier de la Transhumance actually combines three other trails. It goes along the Mare e Monti Nord from Calenzana to Tuarelli, then turns to the GR 20, joins it near the Radule Falls (Cascade de Radule) and follows it to the Col de Verghio, where it turns East and follows the Mare a Mare Nord trail to Croscia that is crossed by another hiking trail -- Sentier Ile Rousse-Corte.

1. Calenzana
2. Maison Forestiere de Bonifatto (536 m)
3. Bocca di Bonassa (552 m)
4. Bocca di Luca (575 m)
5. Tuarelli - Gite d'Etape
6. Manso
7. Monte Estremo
8. Santa Maria Couv. Fangu
9. Bocca di Caprtonale (1,329 m)
10. Bocca di Guagnerola (1,833 m)
11. GR 20 crossroad
12. Bergeries de Radule
13. Cascade de Radule (1,390 m)
14. Mare a Mare Nord crossroad (1,408 m)
15. Albertacce
16. Corscia (850 m)

Note: For the best online map of Corsica go to GéoPortail.fr, click on "Corse" on its home page, then select "Carte" left of the map and zoom to the ratio scale of at least 1:13000, where major hiking trails are mapped in purple and even contour lines are displayed.

Itinerary

Sentier de la Transhumance consists of five daily stages, each five to six hours long:

1. Calenzana - Bonifatu : 5h
2. Bonifatu - Tuarelli : 6h
3. Tuarelli - refuge de Puscaghja : 5h30
4. Refuge de Puscaghja - Albertacce : 6h
5. Albertacce - Corscia : 5h30

The name's origin

Transhumance is a vertical seasonal livestock movement, typically to higher pastures in summer and to the lower valleys in winter. Terra Corsa describes the transhumance phenomenon in Corsica as follows:

Corsica is a land of shepherds. Within living memory the shepherds are adapted to climatique conditions and the mountains of their region. In winter, during the cold and the snow, they guide their flock towards the coast; in summer, when there is drought and heat (and paludism), they return to higher pastures. There, in the traditional way, they make the cheeses and the famous, delicious brucciu.

Every hamlet in the mountains "owns" a "beach"; that is to say a territorium at the seaside. The paths of the transhumance find themselves between these two portions of territorium. The shepherds of the Niolu for example take a the long route by descending into the Filosorma (hinterland of Galeria) or go all the way to the Balagne.

(Quoted with permission from TerraCorsa.info.)