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AN INNER LOCK Corte is the island's only inland citadel. Its construction began in the Middle Ages. The castle, at the top of the rocky promontory that dominates the town (the "eagle's nest"), was first built in 1419. Situated above the confluence of the Tavignano and Restonica rivers, it is defended by a crenellated wall, reinforced by three towers. Vincentellu d'Istria, viceroy of Corsica, vassal of the king of Aragon Alphonse V, was responsible for its construction. Leading the resistance against the Republic of Genoa for several years, he set up the seat of his power in Corte and maintained it until 1434, when he was handed over to the Genoese and beheaded. Three and a half centuries later, in 1769, the defeat of the Nationals at Ponte Novu marked the end of the independent Corsican nation. The troops of the King of France then undertook the construction of the citadel itself and the barracks. Two objectives were assigned to these: to make Corte the ultimate retreat in the event of an enemy attack. Then, to make the city a strong place able to receive a garrison capable of preventing any insurrection. SYMBOL OF INDEPENDENT CORSICA Since the 14th century, the city of Bastia has been dedicated by the Genoese to the command of the island territory. The Corsican revolutions of the 18th century put an end to this pre-eminence. In 1755, for strategic reasons, Pascal Paoli established his government at the Palazzu Naziunale, in Corte. In 1765, the small city welcomed the University and became the symbol of a unified and independent Corsica. Charles Bonaparte, father of Napoleon I, studied law there. He then joined Paoli in the fight for the defence of the Corsican nation. After his marriage, Charles settled in Corte with his wife Letizia. Napoleon, their second son, was conceived there. The fall of the Corsican nation in 1769 put an end to Corte's status as capital. Its University was closed. Although the question of locating the headquarters of the Corsican Assembly in Corte comes up from time to time in public debate, regional power is now concentrated in Ajaccio. As for the University, under the impulse of a vast popular mobilisation, it reopened its doors in 1981. A GEOLOGICAL CROSSROADS Corte is located in what is called the "central furrow" of Corsica. This is a contact strip, with a complex geology, between two large areas: granitic Corsica in the south-west and schistose Corsica in the north-east. As a result, the Cortenais micro-region is characterised by a significant mineralogical variety. Two marble quarries have been exploited in Corte since the 19th century. One at the entrance to the Restonica valley and the other near the old Franciscan convent. The old roads of the town are often paved with Corte marble (darker) and Restonica marble (lighter).

Corte

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