The thousand-year-old chestnut tree of Zonza: an autumn walk in the Alta Rocca
About an hour's drive from Porto-Vecchio, above the village of Zonza, a chestnut tree more than a thousand years old hides in the undergrowth. No sign, no car park: just a short path and a giant that has witnessed centuries of Corsican history. A short and magical walk, especially beautiful in autumn.
A hidden giant above Zonza
On the road to the Col de Bavella, above Zonza, stands a truly extraordinary chestnut tree. Estimated to be over a thousand years old, it spreads a trunk more than ten metres in circumference in a clearing invisible from the road. Meeting it feels like touching the memory of the island.
This tree bears witness to a long history: for centuries, the chestnut tree fed the inland villages, so much so that it was nicknamed « the bread tree ». While the Castagniccia, in the north of the island, is its historic heartland, the nearby Alta Rocca — around Zonza and Levie — is also home to beautiful chestnut groves.
How to find the thousand-year-old chestnut tree
The way is not signposted. From Zonza, drive up the D268 towards Bavella: the path starts on the right-hand side of the road, directly opposite the gate of a black pig farm (starting point: 41.7535, 9.1770). Park wherever you can without blocking the road, then walk about 200 metres through the woods: the tree awaits you in its clearing (see on Google Maps). The photos below will help you find your way: the gate, then the start of the path right opposite (blue arrow).
Before you go
- Ordinary trainers are enough (short path, slightly uneven ground).
- Short but unmarked route — use the photos below to find your way.
- The best autumn colours: from mid-October to mid-November.
Why go in autumn
From October to December, it is chestnut season: the woods turn golden then brown, and chestnuts fall at the foot of the trees. Afternoons stay mild, the mountain roads are quiet, and the walk combines easily with a stop in Zonza or a detour to the Col de Bavella.
It is also a lovely season to stay in Porto-Vecchio: the sea is still warm enough to swim in October, the beaches empty and rental prices drop significantly. Check our off-season rates to plan your stay at the studio.
A thousand years of history at the end of a 200-metre path: in Corsica, some treasures are (barely) hard to reach.