On the road of picturesque villages

Cutlery, ceramics, olive growing, viticulture… From Belgodere to Calenzana, you will find all of them.

Balagne is a microregion of the North-west of the island. It is a concentration of what makes Corsica : a rural territory, rooted between sea on one side, mountain on the other. Administrated by several civilizations, this region of exchange and commerce, open onto the Mediterranean Sea, has experienced a successful development until the end of the 19th century, before gradually becoming an ambassador for the island’s landscapes.

If Balagne is nowadays a land influenced by summer tourism, inhabitants are installed and perpetuating ancestral gestures, inherited from generation to generation. In 1993, the Chamber of Crafts of North Corsica invites the craftsmen and local producers to a meeting that will be followed by the creation of the association La Strada di l’Artigiani, meaning The Road of the Craftsmen. The goal is to invite visitors discover the work of the art and food craftsmen in the villages of Balagne, as well as local producers. A year after, a thematic road is created, with the same name. Today, the association gathers 48 members, spread over the region. The itinerary offers a discovery of workshops, meeting men and women who have made the choice of expressing with their hands what they feel in their souls.

The diversity of the objects made, the wealth of the agricultural production, on a quite small territory, are making the Strada di l’Artigiani, a remarkable attraction for the Beauty Island. Cutlery, ceramics, olive growing, viticulture… From Belgodere to Calenzana, you will find all of them. Among these places where creators hide, Pigna is a haven of absolute peace, a must-see. The village, with its blonde houses and azure blue shutters, shelter a large community of artists, craftsmen and musicians. On the road, a few kilometers further, secured to the crest, a grandiose eagle’s nest. Built in a spiral, the village of Sant’Antonino and its lovely paved streets are ideal for a walk sheltered from the sun, enjoying the view.

Text & Photos : Sébastien Leroy