L'Île-Rousse (Corsican: Isula Rossa) is a town in the north of Corsica.

Understand

Covered market of L'Île-Rousse

History

People settled in the area as early as Roman times, resulting in a fishing village. In 1759 Pasquale Paoli raised the village to a trading port with city fortifications, among other things to give the Genoese city of Calvi a Corsican counterpart.

Visitor informations

• 1 Information point, Avenue Joseph Calizi, ☏ +33 495 60 04 35. (updated Dec 2022)

Get in

By plane

• 1 Calvi Sainte-Catherine Airport (CLY ^IATA) (23 km from L'Île-Rousse). (updated Dec 2022)
• 2 Bastia Poretta Airport (BIA ^IATA) (73 km from L'Île-Rousse). (updated Dec 2022)

By car

• From Bastia: take the T20 in a southwesterly direction to Ponte Leccia, from there continue on the T30.
• From Corte: take the T20 in a northerly direction up to Ponte Leccia, from there continue on the T30.
• From Calvi: take the T30 in a north-easterly direction.
• From Ajaccio: take the T22 in a north-easterly direction. From there you have two options: either go along the coast (winding but very beautiful) first via the D81 to Calvi, from there take the T30 in a north-easterly direction, or take the T20 through the mountains (less sinuous but also beautiful). From Corte continue north to Ponte Leccia, then take the T30.

By train

• 3 L'Île-Rousse railway station. The island's railway company Chemin de Fer du Corse (CFC) serves the city station five times a day from Calvi (journey time 40 minutes). From Bastia or Ajaccio you can take the train to Ponte Leccia and change there twice a day (morning and evening) for a regular bus to L'Île-Rousse (and then to Calvi). The journey from Bastia takes just under two hours, from Ajaccio 3 and a half hours. (updated Dec 2022)

By ferry

• 4 L'Île-Rousse harbour. L'Île-Rousse is connected by ferry with Marseille, Nice, Toulon and Savona. (updated Dec 2022)

See

• The red rock that gives the city its name, with the small lighthouse of Piétra, in operation since 1857, and a Genoese tower at the top.
• 1 Covered market of L'Île-Rousse (Marché couvert de L'Île-Rousse). Greek-style market hall with 21 columns. (updated Dec 2022)
• 2 Église de l'Immaculée Conception de Marie de L'Île-Rousse. Built in 1892 and destroyed by fire in 1914, it was rebuilt in Baroque style in the 1930s. It is located right on Place Paoli. (updated Dec 2022)
• 3 Église Notre-Dame de la Miséricorde de L'Île-Rousse. Built in 1850 together with the monastery and the garden. (updated Dec 2022)
• 4 Pasquale Paoli statue (In the main square (also Place Paoli)). Statue of Corso resistance fighter. (updated Dec 2022)
• 5 Tour de L'Île-Rousse. (updated Dec 2022)

Do

Play petanque on the market square: France's national sport is practiced from morning to evening under palm and plane trees.

Beaches

The city has its own beach. This can be reached in two minutes from the city centre. It is very family friendly and the water is very shallow. Those taking the CFC trains a stop or two in either direction along the coast will also discover other beautiful beaches.

• 1 Bodri beach. (updated Dec 2022)
• 2 Ghjunchitu beach. (updated Dec 2022)

Buy

The Greek-style market hall with the 21 columns next to the Place Paoli offers a weekly market.

Supermarkets

• 1 Casino, Immeuble Palais des Allées (On the main road through the centre), ☏ +33 4 95 60 24 23, fax: +33 4 95 60 35 05. Summer: M-Sa 8:00-20:30, Su 8:30-13:00; Winter: M-F 8:30-12:30 15:00-19:30, Sa 8:30-19:30. (updated Dec 2022)
• 2 Leclerc, Carrefour de Fogata (Leaving the city on the main road towards Calvi), ☏ +33 4 95 63 03 33, fax: +33 4 95 63 03 49. (updated Dec 2022)
• 3 Spar, 4 Rue Napoléon (Next to the covered market), ☏ +33 4 95 60 08 17. (updated Dec 2022)

Eat

• 1 Chez Paco, 18 Rue Napoléon, ☏ +33 4 95 60 03 76. (updated Dec 2022)

Drink

• 1 Le Pubs, 1 Route de Calvi. (updated Dec 2022)

Sleep

• 1 Camping Les Oliviers, RN 197 Route de Bastia, ☏ +33 495 60 19 92, +33 6 15 35 00 45, fax: +33 495 6 030 91, contact@camping-oliviers.com. (updated Dec 2022)
• 2 Camping Le Bodri, RN 197 Route de Calvi, 20256 Corbara, ☏ +33 495 60 10 86, +33 495 60 06 4, +33 6 13 02 97 41, fax: +33 495 47 10 76, info@campinglebodri.com. (updated Dec 2022)

Stay safe

Stay healthy

• 2 Hospital, 32 Avenue Paul Doumer. (updated Dec 2022)

Go next

• The mountain villages of Sant'Antonino and Corbara with their historic centers and churches offer a wide view of the western coast and the Balagne hinterland.
• The small citadel town of Algajola is located halfway from Calvi, accessible by car or train.