Vizzavona
Cascades des Anglais from Vizzavona
From Vizzavona station, follow the GR20 beneath pine and beech trees to the pools of the Agnone, then return through the forest.
A forest escape straight from the train
At Vizzavona, the mountains begin almost on the platform. A few steps take you out of the hamlet and onto the forest paths. Above the houses, tall Corsican pines mingle with beech trees; the mountain slopes appear and disappear between their trunks. The Agnone accompanies the walk, sometimes close by, sometimes hidden below. The destination is not a single waterfall: the Cascades des Anglais are a series of small falls and pools revealed gradually along the way.
This outing follows part of the GR20 without committing you to a trek across Corsica. It gives you time to enjoy the woodland, watch the torrent and return to the same station. Arriving by rail is part of the experience: you reach a mountain village, walk, then catch the train again. This is still a hike, however, with stones, roots and uneven riverbanks. The cool shade must not make you forget the time needed to walk back down.
The route
From the station to the waterfalls
Leaving the station, take the small road uphill towards the signs for the GR20 and the Cascades des Anglais. This first stretch through the hamlet lets you get your bearings before entering the trees. Where the GR routes divide, follow the waterfalls: other routes leave Vizzavona and their destinations are not interchangeable. Continue using the red-and-white waymarks as your guide, rather than the many tracks leading towards the water or into other parts of the forest.
The first part of the walk is through woodland. The path gives you time to admire the tall trunks of the Corsican pines, followed by the denser foliage of the beech trees. Easier sections alternate with stretches where roots and stones need more attention. This is not a continuous climb on an even slope: the ground calls for shorter steps in places, even when the general direction seems obvious. Gaps in the canopy offer glimpses of the slopes above Vizzavona.
As you head up the Agnone valley, the torrent becomes the thread of the outing. Footbridges allow you to cross streams without improvising a way across. Stay on the established path, especially at junctions: a track leading down to a pool is not necessarily the continuation of your route. Near the waterfalls, the ground becomes rockier. Take care with your footing, particularly where stones are wet or covered with leaves.
The waterfalls unfold in stages: a short drop between two boulders, a pool, then another fall. You can enjoy this succession from beside the path without climbing up the bed of the Agnone. The sound and appearance of the water change with its flow; a calm pool tells you nothing about the safety of the whole torrent. Choose a stable spot for your break without blocking other walkers. GR20 hikers continue beyond this day's destination: their direction is not an invitation to extend your own walk automatically.
Return by the same path to Vizzavona. Recognising the footbridges and junctions gives you a different view of the landscape, but roots still require care on the descent. Allow enough time to reach the platform without rushing. The hike ends at the station, not at the last pool: plan your breaks accordingly from the outset.
Choose your route variant carefully
The short walk from the Col de Vizzavona is not this route from the station. Likewise, extensions to the fort or upper waterfalls add distance and effort. This page describes the roughly 6.1 km out-and-back walk via the GR20; do not add an extension while keeping the same return time.
Along the way
Photo credit
Photo: Rémih / Wikimedia Commons — CC BY-SA 4.0 · SourceVizzavona forest: Corsican pines and beech trees form a changing canopy, best appreciated throughout the walk rather than at a single spot.
Photo credit
Photo: jeffwarder / Wikimedia Commons — CC BY-SA 3.0 · SourceThe Agnone: the torrent shapes a series of falls and pools. Changes in its flow give the same place very different faces.
Photo credit
Photo : jeffwarder / Wikimedia Commons · Cropped — CC BY-SA 3.0 · SourceThe footbridges: they offer views of the streams and mark the crossings to use.
Photo credit
Photo : Rémih / Wikimedia Commons · Cropped — CC BY-SA 4.0 · SourceThe GR20: this stretch introduces a major mountain trail while keeping the outing to a day walk.
Practical advice
Wear shoes with a grippy sole; sandals are unsuitable for the rocks beside the torrent. Carry water and a snack without relying on a refreshment stand being open. A light layer is useful in the woodland and during breaks. Put your phone or camera away before uneven sections so that your hands remain free.
Safety information
The banks of the Agnone can be slippery even on gentle ground. Do not cross the torrent away from designated crossings or follow its bed to reach a waterfall. Move away from the water in persistent rain, thunderstorms or rising flow. Other people swimming there do not guarantee that it is safe. Watch children particularly closely near boulders and pools.
Photo gallery
Select a photograph to enlarge it.
A pool and a small waterfall of the Agnone between rocks.
Photo : PHolzwarth / Wikimedia Commons · Cropped — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source
A wooden footbridge crosses the Agnone near the Cascades des Anglais.
Photo : jeffwarder / Wikimedia Commons · Cropped — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source