Cargèse is a village in Corsica, to the north of Ajaccio. It sprawls from the top of a hill down to a small harbor. The town is best known for the Cargèse Institute for Physics, just outside to the south, which hosts conferences and summer schools.

Get in

A bus runs twice a day between Ajaccio and Cargèse. Passage either way costs €8.

Get around

Cargese is tiny: you can comfortably walk anywhere in minutes.

See

A Greek Orthodox church and a Roman Catholic church face each other across the town. Both churches are active, and share a priest (he has a dispensation). They are also the sites for concerts.

Do

The water around Cargèse is lovely, and there are beaches and rocky coasts north and south of the harbour. The surrounding countryside is spotted with paths.

If you go north past Plage Perù and follow the signs to the Presqu'île (peninsula), you will find a long, empty strip of land with an old Genovese watch tower on the end. It makes a nice walk in good weather, and takes about an hour and a half to get there from town.

Eat

• 1 Hôtel St. Jean, Place St. Jean (the main square at the top of the hill), ☏ +33 4 95 26 46 68. Decent pizza or pasta. Their fish and main dishes can be spotty. In fair weather, they have tables outside overlooking the Mediterranean. €10-25. 
• Hôtel Continental, down the street from Place St. Jean. The prix fixe menus the way to go here, and the food is good. In fair weather, they have tables outside overlooking the sea. €10-25.

Sleep

• 1 Hôtel Domaine Saint Pierre, Route de la Plage du Pero, ☏ +33 4 95 26 40 34. Smallish rooms with nice views. Onsite restaurant and outdoor pool. Air conditioning and free wifi throughout. From €73/night. (updated Nov 2017)
• 2 Résidence Roc e Mare, 11 Rue Marbeuf, ☏ +33 4 95 26 47 25. South-facing apartments with sea views and either a balcony or terrace. Equipped with kitchens or kitchenettes with at least a fridge and microwave. Outdoor pool and free wifi. (updated Nov 2017)

Go next

Cliffs in Scandola Nature Reserve, part of the Gulf of Porto world heritage site

• About 10 km north lies the Gulf of Porto, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.