Once we have done this walk, we wouldn’t be able to climb any higher in Corsica. Indeed, the monte cintu is the highest summit in Corsica, 2706 meters high. 

So, even if it is not the most beautiful (because of its ascension, as well as the view it offers), it is still worth it, to see the highest point of the island. Therefore, it offers some kind of pride to everyone who gets there ! 

Even if there is nothing crazy about its ascension, we will still keep it in our memory. It’s uphill, it’s moony, and it’s hard ! We start from Lozzi in the Niolu (there is another path from the valley Asco). The best thing to do would be to get to the refuge Petra Pinzuta from dawn, with a car (an all terrain engine is mandatory). From this place, we can get to the « saint of the saints ». In about 20 min, we reach the refuge Ercu, where the hosts from the previous night will only wake up at that time.  

Now let’s go for the ascent, and what an ascent ! In an hour, we climb 600 meters on the 1300, in the middle of a slippery path where there is simply no vegetation whatsoever. 

The landscape quickly becomes moony. Every turn will bring the walker in front of a new wall to climb. We often need both our hands to climb, and often stop to take a look behind to remember what a piece of vegetation looks like, or maybe just to enjoy the view of the Lac de Calacuccia, being revealed by the sun. The surrounding summits also appear, little by little. We reach the summit, after a few hours walking, a repetitive and sportive walk. On the left handside, we spot the Paglia Orba.

At the bottom of the cross, we spot the Revellata and Calvi. We can see the remains of the Lac d’argentu, closer from our sight, and also Ascu valley, and the ski resort which is back open since 2015. There is a beautiful view, but not as much as the one on the Monte Rotondu. 

We go round the path of the Lac du Cintu on the way back. To go down, we « only have to » jumb above some stones, and let ourselves slide along them. Beware, beginners stay away from there ! 

The lac du Cintu, which is blue and strangely beautiful, is in the shadow of a huge cliff, and seems to be lost in the middle of stones made from all sizes. It’s calm on the surface and we break that calm only to taste the freshness of it, just from our tiptoes so we don’t disturb the ecosystem. 

The second half of the way down is easier. Just follow the cairns, and you will quickly reach a path that will lead you to the refuge Ercu. 

As a nice surprise on our way , there were three mouflons out of the maquis so we can take our souvenir picture.