U casteddu d’Araghju

The casteddu d'Araghju is one of the best-preserved and best-known sites in the far south of Corsica, and is virtually unique on the eastern side in terms of its state of preservation. The casteddu d'Araghju now welcomes many visitors, fascinated by both the beauty of the panorama and the strength of the men who built these walls.
Composed of several small rooms, a central square and most certainly a tower dominating the mountain even more. This building suggests an organised society and an important use for the site. Invented and described for the first time in 1967 by Roger Grosjean, an archaeologist specialising in island prehistory, the Araghju site, although well known, still holds many secrets.
For the time being, the casteddu seems to have a military and defensive role to play. It was a lookout point and a place of entrenchment for the inhabitants of the surrounding area. However, around it, new casteddi are emerging from the clutches of brambles and other prehistoric sites relating to this Torrean culture are being rediscovered, such as the Murato casteddu upstream and the Torra site downstream. The Araghju casteddu is gradually becoming part of a new group of large buildings, over 4 millennia old, the remains of a vanished and still little-known civilisation.

Departure point: on leaving the village of Trinità, on the Bastia road, turn left towards the village of Araghju and follow the signs. Free car park.
Difficulty: steep, rocky climb with no shade.
Duration: 1 hour round trip.
Recommended: walking shoes.