GR 20, Long-distance trail in Corsica, France
The GR 20 is a long-distance footpath that runs roughly 180 kilometers (112 miles) through Corsica, linking the village of Calenzana in the north to Conca in the south. The route crosses alpine terrain with rock formations, narrow ridges and mountain passes, passing through several valleys between the island's highest peaks.
Michel Fabrikant marked the trail in 1972, connecting old shepherd paths and mountain routes into a continuous course. The marking made the mountains accessible to walkers and transformed historical links between villages into a coherent footpath.
The name Grande Randonnée refers to a French network of marked footpaths established since the 1940s. The red and white paint marks along the route follow a uniform system that helps walkers navigate through the mountains and keeps traditional paths visible.
The trail is divided into roughly 15 stages running between mountain huts that provide basic sleeping quarters and meals. Between June and September, booking huts in advance is advisable because spaces fill quickly during this period.
Walkers climb and descend a total of roughly 12,000 meters (39,370 feet) throughout the full route, nearly twice the height of the central Alpine summits. This constant ascent and descent makes the journey more demanding than many longer routes in other European mountain ranges.
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