Col de Vizzavona
| Col de Vizzavona | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 View from the fort above the pass in southwest direction |
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| Compass direction | southwest | Northeast | |
| Pass height | 1163 m | ||
| region | Corsica | ||
| Watershed | Gravona | Vecchio | |
| Valley locations | Bocognano | Vizzavona | |
| profile | |||
| Ø pitch | 3.9% | 5.3% | |
| Max. Incline | 9% | 9% | |
| map | |||
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| Coordinates | 42 ° 6 '42 " N , 9 ° 6' 44" E | ||
The Col de Vizzavona , in Corsica Foce di Vizzavona or Foci di Vizzavona , is a mountain pass in Corsica .
Location and importance
The Col de Vizzavona combines the departments of Haute-Corse and Corse-du-Sud . It is on the main road RT 20, which connects Ajaccio to Bastia via Corte . Because of this location, it is the busiest mountain pass in Corsica. Together with the Col de Vergio , Col de Verde and Col de Bavella passes , it forms one of the four so-called great passes of Corsica. The railway line, which also connects these three cities, crosses the Vizzavona tunnel below the pass. The GR 20 long-distance hiking trail runs through the village of Vizzavona 2 km north of the pass.
On both sides are some of the highest mountains in Corsica: the 2,389 m high Monte d`Oro 3 km to the north-northeast, the 2,352 m high Monte Renoso 6 km to the south-southwest. The northern slope to the pass is wooded. The Vizzavona forest is known for its black pines . The southern slope is rocky and partially covered by macchia and beech trees .
In winter it sometimes happens that the pass is closed due to snowfall.
history
The Vizzavona pass has always been a link of strategic importance.
In 1488 Giovan Paolo di Leca and Rinuccio della Rocca, nobles from the family of the lords of the castle of Cinarca near Casaglione and enemies of the Genoese occupying forces, defeated a troop of around 300 Genoese mercenaries under their leader Rollandone. They wanted to come to the aid of the Genoese who were besieged on Cinarca:
"Débarqué à Bastia, Rollandone passa aussitôt dans le" Delà des Monts "afin de secourir à temps les assiégés de Cinarca. Mais au moment où il passait par Bocognano, au-dessus du col de Vizzavona, les Cinarchesi l'attaquèrent avec des forces considérables. Rollandone perdit tout à fait courage, surtout lorsqu'il vit tomber sous ses yeux au commencement de l'action Impernetto de Cristinacce, homme plein de valeur, qui soutenait le parti des Génois. Il jeta lâchement ses armes et se rendit avec ses soldats sans condition. Ceux-ci furent dépouillés, et retournèrent à Bastia déshonorés à la suite d'un échec si honteux. »
“Having landed in Bastia, Rollandone immediately set out on the other side of the mountains to come to the aid of the besieged of Cinarca. But when he reached Bocognano, below the pass of Vizzavona, the Cinarchesi attacked him with considerable strength. Rollandone immediately lost his courage, especially when he saw one of the best men on his side, Impernetto de Cristinacce, fall. Rollandone cowardly got rid of his weapons and surrendered unconditionally with his soldiers. This was plundered and returned to Bastia, dishonored after such a shameful defeat. "
In 1772, General Noël de Vaux had a fort built to secure the top of the pass. Its ruins still tower over the pass at an altitude of 1,163 m. They are owned by the state and classified as a Monument historique by decree of 1992 .
At the end of the 20th century, the course of the former RN 193 , today RT 20, was modified on the northeast side. The old street, an avenue of old linden trees , has since been closed to traffic.
Cycling
The Col de Vizzavona was driven from the 2013 Tour de France in a north-south direction. It was classified as a second category mountain. The Frenchman Pierre Rolland was the first to reach the top of the pass.
Attractions
- Immediately north of the pass, on the tip of a moraine tongue , are the ruins of General Vaux's fort. The place offers a clear view of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
- If you follow the shady mountain path north from the fort, you will reach the Cascade des Anglais waterfall after approx. 2 km . A pool offers the opportunity to swim there. Shortly before the waterfall, the path joins the GR 20 long-distance hiking trail.
- Directly below on the north side is a chapel dedicated to Notre-Dame des Neiges (German: Our Lady of the Snow ).
- Below on the southeast side is a natural spring.
- The upper part of the road towards Bocognano offers several viewpoints into the upper Gravona valley.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Lucien Auguste Letteron: Bulletin de la Société des Sciences Historiques et Naturelles de la Corse . In: Histoire de la Corse . tape 1 , 1890, p. 27 .
- ↑ Lucien Auguste Letteron: Bulletin de la Société des Sciences Historiques et Naturelles de la Corse . In: Histoire de la Corse . tape 1 , 1890, p. 406 .
- ↑ Ruines du Fort de Vizzavona. In: Mérimée database. French Government, accessed May 9, 2018 (French).
