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A sustainable Christmas on the beautiful island of Corsica New
A gourmet, local and responsible New Year's Eve dinner
Authenticity reigns supreme on the New Year's Eve table. Far from the excesses of imported products, simply let yourself be guided by the treasures of the island's terroir to create a feast that is rich in flavour and respectful of the environment. The foundations of a successful meal are rooted in the land.
Let yourself be guided by the treasures of the Corsican terroir to compose a menu that is low in carbon footprint but rich in flavour. Farmhouse charcuterie (prisuttu, coppa), mature sheep's or goat's cheeses and olive oils from our mills are the essential basis for a successful meal.
Mele di Corsica (Corsican honey), the island's signature product © Sylvain Alessandri / ATC
For a touch of iconic sweetness, try some honey from the maquis. A true signature of the island, this ancestral production is celebrated with fervour, particularly by producers committed to the Mele di Corsica (Corsican Honey) PDO. More than just a sweet ingredient, it offers a rare and complex range of flavours that inspires creativity.
| The gourmet tip: Use chestnut honey to glaze poultry or spring maquis honey to delicately sweeten a Corsican citrus fruit salad for dessert. It's a simple way to support local beekeeping while enhancing your dishes. |
Corsican crafts, a gift that lasts well beyond Christmas
When it comes to gifts, choosing handmade items is a responsible and sustainable choice. Behind each object lies a face, a story, a skill passed down from generation to generation. Far from standardised products, Corsica's ancestral know-how gives rise to unique and personalised pieces. Giving a handmade gift means extending your stay well beyond the holidays, taking a piece of the island home with you.
In Sartè (Sartène), Bunifaziu (Bonifacio) and Portivechju (Porto-Vecchio), artisan workshops open their doors to curious visitors. In the ancient alleyways, cutlers forge exceptional blades, designed to last and be passed down through the generations. Leatherworkers craft leather weathered by time, while other creators sculpt olive wood or transform cork into decorative objects intimately linked to the Mediterranean landscape.
Corsican artisans with unique creations © Sylvain Alessandri / ATC
Culture and creativity permeate the entire island. While cities such as Corte, Bastia, Aiacciu (Ajaccio) and Calvi are veritable treasure troves of cultural gifts, with their bookshops, Corsican publishers, galleries and designer boutiques, inspiration is not limited to urban centres. In mountain villages, Christmas markets and along the coast, potters create unique pieces, jewellers reinvent traditional designs, and textile artisans weave and embroider, drawing inspiration from the maquis, the sea and local legends.
Between Ajaccio, Corte and Bastia, a Christmas spent travelling by train
The ‘Trinichellu’ for crossing Corsican valleys © Adobestock
What if the journey itself became a highlight of the festive season? The Ajaccio–Corte–Bastia railway line, the famous Trinichellu, offers an ideal low-carbon route for connecting the Christmas markets of Corsica's major towns and cities, crossing the mountainous heart of the island.
On board, time stretches out and the landscape transforms into a picture-postcard winter scene. Far from the stress of the road, the train invites you to contemplate rather than rush.
Good to know:
The train, your ally for a sustainable Christmas Train travel often benefits from special offers during the festive season. It's the gentlest way to soak up the soul of Corsica in winter.
Natural décor: the magic of the maquis at home
When it comes to decorations, there's no need for plastic or synthetic glitter. Corsican nature provides everything you need for a magical, zero-waste setting.
Arbousia berries from the maquis, Corsica's red treasures © Sylvain Alessandri / ATC
A walk in the forest (towards Vizzavona or Aïtone) is an opportunity to respectfully collect a few branches of Laricio pine that have fallen to the ground and pine cones. Complete your centrepiece with myrtle, mastic or arbutus leaves gathered from the scrubland.
Arrange them in a wreath or table runner, decorated with beeswax candles from our local beekeepers. For packaging, opt for reusable fabric ribbons or recycled glass jars for your gourmet gifts. Your authentic and soothing home will smell like the maquis.
Extend the party without wasting
A sustainable Christmas is also a Christmas without waste. Transform your leftover charcuterie and pulenta (chestnut flour) into a delicious dish. Cut the cold pulenta into slices, layer with leftover pieces of prisuttu or figatellu, bind everything together with a little brocciu or grated sheep's cheese, and sprinkle with herbs from the maquis (nepita or marjoram). A few minutes in the oven, and you have a comforting dish.
Leftover canistrelli make a perfect crunchy base for a crumble or verrine. Citrus peel (clementines, citrons) can be candied for future cakes. Finally, keep the lamb or goat bones to make a flavourful broth.
A sustainable Christmas on the Isle of Beauty is about the pleasure of sharing a seasonal meal, supporting local crafts, contemplating the landscapes from the train and bringing nature into your home. Whether you are on the island for a holiday or want to take inspiration from it at home, these gestures give meaning to the festive season.
‘Merry Christmas’
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