ABOVE: Corsica.
Guide to Corsica
Corsica (la Corse)
Comprising the départements of:
Corse-du-Sud (2A), Haute-Corse (2B)
Population: 132,000
Principal city: Ajaccio
Tourist board
The answer to the question "Which département is also a region?" is Corsica, département no 20, or more precisely, 2A and 2B: Haute-Corse (the north of the island) and Corse-du-Sud respectively.
Also known as the Île de Beauté, Corsica is a mountainous island — Monte Cinto is 2710m high. Its geographic situation means that it has swung between independence, Italian domination or being part of France. It was finally sold to France in 1768. The fact that Napoléon was born there helped to cement the union. Despite concessions made by the French government, the militant separatist movement is very strong.
2A Corse du Sud
Population: 119,000
Principal city: Ajaccio
Tourist board
Corsica is both a region and two separate départements at the same time. It is a land of prehistoric sculpted megaliths, a land of ingrained myth and superstition, a land of blood feuds. It is also home to a haunting, prehistoric-sounding polyphonic vocal style by both men and women.
The interior is so rugged and mountainous (the island has been called the "mountain in the sea") that almost all human habitation is near the coast. The landscape of the interior is overwhelmingly the domain of shepherds.
The southern sawtooth coastline offers the visitor Bonifacio, an unforgettable town perched over sea cliffs like stone corbels.
Ajaccio, on the west coast, is set on what has been called the most beautiful gulf in the world: overlooking the îles Sanguinaires, which glow a dramatic red in the setting sun. It is also home to a Napoléon museum.
The course of history has badly buffeted this maritime foothold: seemingly every seafaring nation since prehistory has colonised it, including the Etruscans, the Saracens and the Genoese. After the chaos of the French Revolution, the English managed to replace French rule with an albeit short-lived Corsican state.
You would expect Corsica to follow the Mediterranean passion for colourful festivals, and you'd be right: chestnut and olive fairs, Easter processions and car rallies jostle for position in the island's calendar.
2B Haute-Corse
Population: 132,000
Principal city: mairie-Bastia@wanadoo.fr - Bastia
Tourist board
Corsica is both a region and two separate départements at the same time. It is a land of prehistoric sculpted megaliths, a land of ingrained myth and superstition, a land of blood feuds. It is also home to a haunting, prehistoric-sounding polyphonic vocal style by both men and women.
The interior is so rugged and mountainous (the island has been called the "mountain in the sea") that almost all human habitation is near the coast. The landscape of the interior is epitomised by the spectacular views from the mountainside town of Corte, and is overwhelmingly the domain of shepherds.
The port of Calvi and the citadel town of Bastia are popular destinations in the north.
The course of history has badly buffeted this maritime foothold: seemingly every seafaring nation since prehistory has colonised it, including the Etruscans, the Saracens and the Genoese. After the chaos of the French Revolution, the English managed to replace French rule with an albeit short-lived Corsican state; Nelson lost his eye at the siege of Calvi.
You would expect Corsica to follow the Mediterranean passion for colourful festivals, and you'd be right: chestnut and olive fairs, Easter processions and car rallies jostle for position in the island's calendar.