Plage de Bodri

Plage de Bodri is a sandy cove of about 400 metres in the commune of Corbara in the Balagne, Haute-Corse, closing off the western side of the Gulf of L'Île-Rousse on the north coast of Corsica. It suits families, snorkellers and wind-sports fans, and the little beach train stops beside it.

Clear water and summer supervision near L'Île-Rousse

Visit Corsica places Bodri about 1 km from L'Île-Rousse toward Calvi. The water is usually very clear, and the rocky points at each end suit snorkelling on calm days. The beach is maintained and has a supervised swimming area in summer and on windy days, when it also draws kitesurfers and windsurfers. Shade on the sand is limited, so bring a parasol and water. In season a food truck works near the beach and a restaurant occupies an old station building a few hundred metres away.

Ghjunchitu, a few minutes west on foot

Its neighbour Ghjunchitu lies just to the west, about 700 m away, and a path links the two beaches in a few minutes. Ghjunchitu is larger and quieter once you walk away from the access points, and one beach guide notes that the northern part of Bodri is used by naturists.

Trinichellu train stop 270 m from the sand

The railway between Calvi and L'Île-Rousse, known locally as the Trinichellu, runs right behind the coast, and its Bodri stop, the first after L'Île-Rousse, is about 270 m from the sand. The train is the simplest way to arrive in summer, when trains are more frequent and parking is scarce.

Paoli's 1758 port town and the Balagne

L'Île-Rousse was founded in 1758 by Pasquale Paoli, leader of independent Corsica, to give the island a port outside Genoese control. It is one of the few Corsican towns built from scratch, with the Place Paoli and its statue at its heart, and the red porphyry islets that give the town its name lie offshore. Inland, the hill villages of the Balagne, Corbara about 4 km away and Monticello, look down over the coast.