In Corsica, a tourist itinerary in the footsteps of Saint Martin, patron saint of winegrowers

Telling the Corsican territory through 1700 years of history through the prism of an itinerary in the footsteps of Saint Martin of Tours. This is the ambition of this route, which is part of the European framework. A first tourist section of 15 kilometers has already been inaugurated between Patrimonio and Ville di Pietrabugno, opening the promise of roads linking the Martinian sites of the island. The objective is to reach a 250-kilometer itinerary to offer cultural tourism in Corsica. The starting point is written in a legend born 1700 years ago, at the end of the Roman Empire. Martin, also called Martin the Merciful, a former legionary of the Emperor’s guard evangelizes Europe on foot.

Fleeing persecution, he spent several years on the island of Gallinara in Liguria, not far from the Cape that would later bear his name, a few hours’ sailing from Corsica. Legend has it that he travelled around the island of Corsica through its mountains, which he loved. While surveying the Pigno massif, at the foot of Cap Corse, the population, who were very poor, implored the man. Touched by their generosity, he decided to rid this land of all its ills. From Teghjime, accompanied by a gesture of the hand, he exclaimed: “Ce sera mon patrimoine, it will be my Heritage!Here, history is written between Patrimonio, a commune in Nebbiu known for its winegrowers, and Saint-Martin:He embodies sharing through the gift of his coat to a poor person, recontextualizes Christian Andreani, president of the cultural center “San Martinu” in Corsica, responsible for labeling the route. The route launched by the Council of Europe extends over 5,000 kilometres from Hungary to France. Saint Martin is a protector of agricultural production sites. He is found in hundreds of place names in Europe. He invented travel and pilgrimage. We have been working on this project for 15 years to show that Corsica has an enormous Martinian heritage.

“On Saint Martin’s Day, must is worth wine”

Corsica is thus the first stage of the itinerary on a Mediterranean island. Based on the life of Saint Martin, widely documented by a very active scientific committee, several itineraries have been set up in Europe, covering more than 5000 km of mapped and signposted paths. The number of hikers, between present-day Hungary, where Saint Martin was born, and France where he died, is still low but constantly increasing. However, this extremely long route is not within everyone’s reach, so the Network is developing local loops that allow a discovery of the Martinian memory and local heritage riches over a shorter period accessible to all audiences.

Why did you choose Patrimonio? The answer is simple. Patrimonio is the name given by Saint Martin himself to grant the wish of the people of the region who had agricultural calamities. “For St. Martin, must is worth wine”or in French: “On Saint Martin’s Day, must is worth wine”. This well-known Corsican saying marks an important stage in the life of Corsican winegrowers, the winegrowers. It is indeed on November 11, Saint Martin’s Day, that we draw ― to spy ― new wine. Corsica of vineyards is celebrating. A traditional festival that takes place every year in this village of Haute-Corse on November 10 and 11. It combines religious fervor, meditation and conviviality. Between religious procession, march in honor of Saint-Martin, then a mass said by the Bishop of Corsica and sung by A Cunfraternità San Martinu, is celebrated at the village church. During this popular gathering, many cellars open their doors for wine tastings, allowing visitors to discover local flavors.

A different kind of tourism

The path between Patrimonio and Ville di Pietrabugno, labeled Grit Access (Great Tyrrhenian accessible heritage and cultural itinerary), is part of this natural setting: “It’s another way of understanding tourism, Christian Andreani confides. Some people are happy to see thousands of visitors to Ajaccio in a single day who arrive via cruises. Others less so. Here it is about making a rural itinerary in the footsteps of Saint Martin. We are so far behind in our knowledge of the history of Corsica. There are between 1200 and 1500 Romanesque churches. With the lives of the saints we tell works of art. The idea is to import cultural tourism. Create a rural network from these places.

The island wants to position itself as a laboratory for this new tourism with this project: “The second stage is to embody a 60-kilometer mission to the eastern plain, in Casinca. The goal is then to descend to Bonifacio. We have identified old roads about ten kilometers from the coast. It is a long job but the institutions are following us.”

The model is based on the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela and its thousands of visitors. An ambitious example that makes Saint-Martin enthusiasts on the island dream: “We want to create a year-round tourism focused on heritage and culture that could bring small regular flows of visitors. Tourism is not about selling pizzas at 20 euros. Afterwards, we wonder why people don’t come anymore. It’s the rural world that will save the cities. Many people are looking for spirituality. And this itinerary can bring all that.” At a time when the traditional tourism model is running out of steam on the island, other players are offering another way, which could well renew the way of visiting Corsica…

More information on the Visit Corsica tourist office website