Castello-di-Rostino brings together the memory of a defining chapter in Corsican history and a clearly defined road circuit: the Strada Paolina starts and ends in Ponte Novu and follows winding roads for 95.7 kilometres. This gives you two distinct themes to plan around: the history of a specific site and a longer road circuit. This provides a stay with a clear focus, without combining historic memorial sites and the circuit into a single excursion.
History in Ponte Novu
The decisive battle between the Corsican troops led by General Pasquale Paoli and the armies of King Louis XV of France took place at Ponte Novu on 8 May 1769. Every year on the anniversary of the defeat, Ponte Novu holds colourful commemorations at the damaged bridge arch. The battle and the commemoration thus belong to two different time periods at the same place: the event of 1769 and its recurring remembrance.
Below the Ponte Novu bridge is an esplanade with 13 panels about Corsica in the 18th century. The A Memoria centre on the N193 in Ponte Novu offers history enthusiasts audio guides to the history of the site; it also houses a small museum dedicated to Pascal Paoli. The panels, audio guides and museum each offer a different focus: the overview of Corsica in the 18th century sits alongside a small museum dedicated to a single historical figure.
Churches, Frescoes and the Castle Ruin
San Tumasgiu de Pastoreccia is listed as a historic monument; it was listed on 10 February 1923. The chapel has preserved frescoes that rank among the finest in Corsica. It is in the hamlet of Pastoreccia, a ten-minute walk from Castellu di u Pinzu. San Tumasgiu thus combines a dated monument listing and a distinctive artistic feature with a specific walking time to another named place.
The chapel of San Lorenzo has a vaulted interior with pilasters and a single altar. The name Castello di Rostino comes from a medieval castle, now in ruins on a rocky outcrop above the Golo Valley. The interior and the castle ruin offer different points of interest: one focuses on architectural details inside, the other on the position of a ruin above the valley.
Strada Paolina: Circuit and Directions
The Strada Paolina is a 95.7-kilometre circuit on winding roads. It runs entirely on roads that are narrow in places but considered passable. As a circuit, it starts and ends in Ponte Novu, in the historic village of Castello-di-Rostino. This makes the route different from a single memorial site: it is a separate, longer undertaking to plan for your trip.
Along each stage, panels in French, Corsican, Italian and English provide information about the history of the places. The route can also be accessed via QR codes and a free smartphone app. The circuit thus combines a set road route with information about the history of the places it passes through.
Miniature Architecture in Stone and Lauze
The Village de pierres, also called Village imaginaire, is a miniature village featuring replicas of important Corsican buildings made from Brando stone and lauze. Its miniature format offers a distinct way to explore architecture alongside the history of the battle, church art and the castle ruin: the focus is on several recreated buildings and the materials used to make the models.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Canale-Di-Verde, Tox, Santa-Lucia-di-Mercurio, Lavatoggio, Lama, Calacuccia, Zalana, Solaro
Back to the regional travel overview: Haute-Corse.
