The citadel of Corte occupies a dramatic spike of rock above the old town, its walls rising from a vertical cliff face above the meeting of the Tavignano and Restonica rivers. It is one of the most spectacular fortress sites in the Mediterranean, and the view from the upper terrace — down into the gorge and out across tier upon tier of mountains — is worth the climb on its own.
The citadel dates to the Genoese period but is inseparable from the story of Corsican independence. Pasquale Paoli chose Corte as his capital here in the 1750s, and the building still carries that weight. Entry is via the ramp from the old town square; allow an hour or two to walk the walls, visit the Museum of Corsica inside, and look out from the nid d'aigle (eagle's nest) platform at the very top.