Fenu, On the paths of the monks of the Ermitage de la Trinité


The bay of Paragan marks the end of limestone and the return of granite, with the impressive chaos of the Trinité dominating the coastline. After passing the Fenu bonfire, the coast becomes gentler as you head towards La Tonnara, with a few rocks rising like monoliths, glowing red in the sunset. The bay of Stagnolu, with its dune and small marsh, heralds the small shelter of La Tonnara and its islets.
 

  From your car park, walk down to the beach at Cala di Paragan, then turn right via the footbridge onto the coastal path. Cala di Paragan is a highly educational spot where you can observe the contact zone between the granite on the western shore and the limestone on the eastern shore.
 
  Walk past the brick kiln and the old quarry towards Cala di I Frati. To the west of Cala di Paragan, where clay and wood abound, the ruins of a brick kiln can be seen next to rocky slabs that once served as a landing stage.
 
  Continue along the coastal path, crossing a number of small valleys and the Cala Genovese. At the end of the springy valleys, dreamy coves stretch out, delighting thousands of young fish looking for food and protection in these peaceful waters. These rugged coasts, where the rocks are submerged to a depth of just a few metres, are home to the corb, a bronze-coloured cave fish.
 
  Take the old Chemin aux Moines towards the fork that leads to the lighthouse. Situated downstream from the Trinité hermitage, which has had a chapel since the early Middle Ages, the Chemin aux Moines is a small paved section that leads up a steep hill. Two species of geckos live in this rocky environment: the phylodactyl and the hemidactyl, nocturnal reptiles, the latter of which fears the cold.
 
  Take a detour to the Fenu fire and retrace your steps along the signposted path. The Fenu light is a 9m-high square tower built into the rock. Its directional light emits 4 white flashes every 15 seconds.
 
  Cross the ‘petrified’ valley and pass Cala Grande. In this area, the scrubland appears petrified. This is due to the fire that ravaged the Bonifacio area in 1994, burning a few Hermann's turtles and many other species that were not lucky enough, like the bluebird, to be able to fly away.
 
       Follow the cairns past Cala di u Merlu to La Tonnara. At the end of this route, the atmosphere is mineral, with the scrub, prostrate from the gusts of sea spray, having taken refuge in the hinterland. Only a few plants, such as the Corsican erodium, a rare endemic, lurk at the foot of the rocks. A fishing device designed to catch pelagic* fish such as tuna, also known as a madrague, gave its name to this place and to this archipelago: la Tonnara.
 

Length of walk :
2 hours from Paragan beach to Fenu bonfire
5 hours from Paragan beach to La Tonnara beach
Difficulty :   Easy

Please note that the following are prohibited :
Landing on the islets, all collecting, all forms of fishing, motor vehicle traffic, fires, bivouacs, camping, rubbish.

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