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Bastelica is a commune in the
Corse-du-Sud Corse-du-Sud (; , or ; ) is (as of 2019) an administrative department of France, consisting of the southern part of the island of Corsica. The corresponding departmental territorial collectivity merged with that of Haute-Corse on 1 January ...
department of
France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
on the island of
Corsica Corsica ( , , ; ; ) is an island in the Mediterranean Sea and one of the Regions of France, 18 regions of France. It is the List of islands in the Mediterranean#By area, fourth-largest island in the Mediterranean and lies southeast of the Metro ...
. It was the birthplace of
Sampiero Corso Sampiero Corso (, born Sampiero da Bastelica; 1498 – 17 January 1567) was a Corsican soldier, father of the Marshal of France Alphonse d'Ornano. Early career Born in Bastelica as a common man (although his mother was of the lower nobility), ...
. The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Bastelicais'', ''Bastelicaises'', or ''Bastilcacci''.


Geography

Bastelica is located in the interior of the island in the high valley of the
Prunelli The Prunelli is a small coastal river in the department of Corse-du-Sud, Corsica, France. It flows into the Golfe d'Ajaccio on the Mediterranean Sea. Course The Prunelli is long. It crosses the communes of Ajaccio, Bastelica, Bastelicaccia, Caur ...
south-west of the
Monte Renoso massif The Monte Renoso massif () is a chain of mountains in the south of the island of Corsica, France. It takes its name from Monte Renoso, the highest peak. Geography The Monte Renoso massif is one of the four main blocks of mountains in Corsica. Thes ...
of which it shares the summit at of
Monte Renoso Monte Renoso () is a mountain in the departments of Haute-Corse and Corse-du-Sud on the island of Corsica, France. It is the highest peak in the Monte Renoso massif. Location The peak of Monte Renoso is on the boundary between the commune of Gh ...
with
Bocognano Bocognano (; , ) is a Communes of France, commune located in the Departments of France, department of Corse-du-Sud, on the island of Corsica, France. The village, situated at the south-western side of the climb to the Col de Vizzavona, belongs ...
and
Ghisoni Ghisoni () is a commune in the Haute-Corse department of France on the island of Corsica. Population See also *Communes of the Haute-Corse department The following is a list of the 236 Communes of France, communes of the Haute-Corse De ...
. It is also part of the Regional Natural Park of Corsica. It is some 18 km east of
Ajaccio Ajaccio (, , ; French language, French: ; or ; , locally: ; ) is the capital and largest city of Corsica, France. It forms a communes of France, French commune, prefecture of the Departments of France, department of Corse-du-Sud, and head o ...
(in a straight line). It has many pastures planted with
chestnut The chestnuts are the deciduous trees and shrubs in the genus ''Castanea'', in the beech family Fagaceae. The name also refers to the edible nuts they produce. They are native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Description ...
trees. Access to the commune is by the D27 from Cauro in the south-west which passes through the length of the commune and the village before continuing north to
Bocognano Bocognano (; , ) is a Communes of France, commune located in the Departments of France, department of Corse-du-Sud, on the island of Corsica, France. The village, situated at the south-western side of the climb to the Col de Vizzavona, belongs ...
. The D27A goes east from the village to the mountain heights but has no exit. The D3 branches from the D27 south of the village and goes south-west to join the
Route nationale A ''route nationale'', or simply ''nationale'', is a class of trunk road in France. They are important roads of national significance which cross broad portions of the French territory, in contrast to departmental or communal roads which serve mo ...
N196 near Ajaccio. Apart from the village there are the hamlets of Vignola and Radicale to the south. The commune is rugged and mountainous. Bastelica has no less than 16 adjacent communes and is one of the six communes in the ''Community of communes of the Valley of the Prunelli''. It was once the chief town of the Canton but is now a part of the ''Canton of Gravona-Prunelli'' which has its seat in Afa. The intersection of the 42nd
parallel Parallel may refer to: Mathematics * Parallel (geometry), two lines in the Euclidean plane which never intersect * Parallel (operator), mathematical operation named after the composition of electrical resistance in parallel circuits Science a ...
North and the 9th
meridian Meridian or a meridian line (from Latin ''meridies'' via Old French ''meridiane'', meaning “midday”) may refer to Science * Meridian (astronomy), imaginary circle in a plane perpendicular to the planes of the celestial equator and horizon * ...
East of Greenwich is in the commune (see the
Degree Confluence Project The Degree Confluence Project is a World Wide Web-based all-volunteer project that aims to have people visit each of the integer degree intersections of latitude and longitude on Earth, posting photographs and a narrative of each visit online. Th ...
).


Climate

Bastelica has a
warm-summer mediterranean climate A Mediterranean climate ( ), also called a dry summer climate, described by Köppen and Trewartha as ''Cs'', is a temperate climate type that occurs in the lower mid-latitudes (normally 30 to 44 north and south latitude). Such climates typic ...
(
Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...
''Csb''). The average annual temperature in Bastelica is . The average annual rainfall is with December as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around , and lowest in January, at around . The highest temperature ever recorded in Bastelica was on 23 July 2009; the coldest temperature ever recorded was on 11 February 1986.


Administration

List of Successive
Mayors In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a Municipal corporation, municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilitie ...


Demography

In 2017 the commune had 533 inhabitants.


Education

The commune has a public primary school.


Sports

The ''Val d'Ese'' ski resort is located in the commune.


Culture and heritage


Civil heritage

* The War Memorial at Dominicacci * Many Fountains and
Lavoir A lavoir (, wash-house) is a public place set aside for the washing of clothes. Communal washing places were common in Europe until industrial washing was introduced, and this process in turn was replaced by domestic washing machines and by s ...
s ** Boccialacce Fountain; ** Fountain-Lavoir of Piscia D'Urtolu at Stazzona; ** Fountain of Dominicacci; ** Fountain of Verga; ** Funtana Maio Fountain at Vassalacci; ** a Fountain-Lavoir called Fountain de Costa or Fountain de Tricolacci. The commune has two sites that are registered as historical monuments: * A Monument to
Sampiero Corso Sampiero Corso (, born Sampiero da Bastelica; 1498 – 17 January 1567) was a Corsican soldier, father of the Marshal of France Alphonse d'Ornano. Early career Born in Bastelica as a common man (although his mother was of the lower nobility), ...
(1890) The work of the sculptor Vital Gabriel Dubray, this bronze statue is 3.50m high and stands at a crossroads in the village centre between the parish church, the school (formerly the Saint Francis Convent), and the town hall. * The Genovese Bridge at Zippitoli (15th century) In the 16th century the bridge provided a connection from Bastelica to Ajaccio. With a single arch, it is a humpbacked bridge like most of that time. It was abandoned during the construction of the "forest road No. 1 from Cauro to Bastelica" which is today the D27 road.


Religious heritage

* Chapel of the Annunciation (the Anunciata) at Dominicacci opposite the War Memorial. * Chapel Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel called ''a Ghjisgiola'' at Vassalacci. * Chapel Sainte-Bernadette at Radicale. * Chapel Sant'Austinu di Basterga at Sant'Agostino. * The Parish Church of Saint Michel is in the Santo (Santu) district at the centre of the village. In
Baroque The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque sculpture, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from ...
style and built in the 17th century, it is built in the form of a Latin cross. The central
nave The nave () is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. When a church contains side aisles, as in a basilica-type ...
is lined with square pillars and flanked by two aisles (or lateral naves) and is extended by a
choir A choir ( ), also known as a chorale or chorus (from Latin ''chorus'', meaning 'a dance in a circle') is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform or in other words ...
where there is the main
Altar An altar is a table or platform for the presentation of religion, religious offerings, for sacrifices, or for other ritualistic purposes. Altars are found at shrines, temples, Church (building), churches, and other places of worship. They are use ...
. There are two side chapels with side altars dedicated to Saint Michel and Saint
Anthony of Padua Anthony of Padua, Order of Friars Minor, OFM, (; ; ) or Anthony of Lisbon (; ; ; born Fernando Martins de Bulhões; 15 August 1195 – 13 June 1231) was a Portuguese people, Portuguese Catholic priest and member of the Order of Friars Minor. ...
. The bell tower porch is four storeys high with a symmetrical façade on the first two floors, topped by a triangular pediment, and crowned with a cupola. The Church contains several items that are registered as historical objects: * A
Stations of the Cross The Stations of the Cross or the Way of the Cross, also known as the Via Dolorosa, Way of Sorrows or the , are a series of fourteen images depicting Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ on the day of Crucifixion of Jesus, his crucifixion and acc ...
(14 stations) (1905) * A Statue: Virgin and child (19th century) * A Painting: The Calvary (17th century) * A
Stoup A holy water font or stoup is a vessel containing holy water which is generally placed near the entrance of a church. It is often placed at the base of a crucifix or other Christian art. It is used in Catholic, as well as many Lutheran and Anglica ...
(17th century) * An
Altar An altar is a table or platform for the presentation of religion, religious offerings, for sacrifices, or for other ritualistic purposes. Altars are found at shrines, temples, Church (building), churches, and other places of worship. They are use ...
and
Tabernacle According to the Hebrew Bible, the tabernacle (), also known as the Tent of the Congregation (, also Tent of Meeting), was the portable earthly dwelling of God used by the Israelites from the Exodus until the conquest of Canaan. Moses was instru ...
(17th century) * A Statue: Saint
Anthony of Padua Anthony of Padua, Order of Friars Minor, OFM, (; ; ) or Anthony of Lisbon (; ; ; born Fernando Martins de Bulhões; 15 August 1195 – 13 June 1231) was a Portuguese people, Portuguese Catholic priest and member of the Order of Friars Minor. ...
(17th century)


Environmental heritage

Bastelica is part of the Regional Natural Park of Corsica in the "Land of Life" called Gravona. ; Zone of Ecological Interest, Flora and Fauna (ZNIEFF) The commune has eight 2nd generation ZNIEFF areas: * The Pineta-Quarceta Forest and the Punta di Forca d'Olmu mountains, an area between 522 and 1679 metres above sea level covering 3007
hectare The hectare (; SI symbol: ha) is a non-SI metric unit of area equal to a square with 100-metre sides (1 hm2), that is, square metres (), and is primarily used in the measurement of land. There are 100 hectares in one square kilometre. ...
s. * The Forest of five communes and Col d'Arusula, an area of 2529 hectares of forest area lying north of the Col d'Arusula (1206m) covering over Frasseto and
Guitera-les-Bains Guitera-les-Bains (), commonly known as Guitera (), is a commune in the Corse-du-Sud department of France on the island of Corsica. Population See also *Communes of the Corse-du-Sud department The following is a list of the 124 Commune ...
with an altitude between 789 and 1569m. The vegetation consists of green oak forests of Mediterranean type with
beech Beech (genus ''Fagus'') is a genus of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to subtropical (accessory forest element) and temperate (as dominant element of Mesophyte, mesophytic forests) Eurasia and North America. There are 14 accepted ...
and
pine A pine is any conifer tree or shrub in the genus ''Pinus'' () of the family Pinaceae. ''Pinus'' is the sole genus in the subfamily Pinoideae. ''World Flora Online'' accepts 134 species-rank taxa (119 species and 15 nothospecies) of pines as cu ...
forests in the mountains. * The Beech forests of Bastelica, an area of 946 hectares of forest ranging between 900 and 1750m altitude. * The Chestnut-Beech Forests of Bastelica, an area wholly in Bastelica covering 1492 hectares of forest ranging between 700 and 1210m altitude. * The Cirques and glacial lakes of Monte Renoso, an area of 1762 hectares covering three communes. It is centred on Monte Renoso and lies between 1600 and 2352m altitude. * The Peaks and upper unforested slopes of Monte Renoso, an area covering eight communes lying between 950 and 2352 metres above sea level and covering 5111 hectares. It is an area traditionally used by shepherds for summer pastures and there are many sheep there in summer. The Ghisoni ski resort is on the eastern slope of Renoso and the Ese ski resort is above Bastelica. * The Pine Forests in the upper ravine of Marmano, an area of 217 hectares located west of the Col de Verde and including the upper Marmano valley. * The Beech-Pine forests of Punteniello, an area of 523 hectares of forest stretching between 1200 and 1800 m altitude. ; Natura 2000 sites *
Sites of Community Importance A Site of Community Importance (SCI) is defined in the European Commission Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) as a site which, in the Biogeographic regions of Europe, biogeographical region or regions to which it belongs, contributes significantly to t ...
(Dir. Habitat) ** The Massif de Renoso, an area of 6107 hectares. * Special Protection Area (Dir. Birds) ** The Territorial Forests of Corsica, an area covering 13,223 hectares between 200 and 2057 metres altitude. There are three species of protected birds: the
Northern goshawk The northern goshawk has been split into two species based on significant morphological and genetic differences: * Eurasian goshawk The Eurasian goshawk (; ''Astur gentilis'', formerly ''Accipiter gentilis'') is a species of medium-large bird of ...
((Corsica ssp.) ''Accipiter gentilis arrigonii'' (Kleinschmidt, 1903)), the
golden eagle The golden eagle (''Aquila chrysaetos'') is a bird of prey living in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the most widely distributed species of eagle. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. They are one of the best-known bird of pr ...
(''Aquila chrysaetos'' (Linnaeus, 1758)), and the Corsican nuthatch (''Sitta whiteheadi Sharpe'', 1884) in the high pine forests.FR9410113 Forêts Territoriales de Corse
INPN website


Notable people linked to the commune

*
Sampiero Corso Sampiero Corso (, born Sampiero da Bastelica; 1498 – 17 January 1567) was a Corsican soldier, father of the Marshal of France Alphonse d'Ornano. Early career Born in Bastelica as a common man (although his mother was of the lower nobility), ...
, born in the commune on 23 mai 1498, failed to take the island from the Genovese. Died in an ambush on 5 January 1567 near the village of Eccica in a place that took the name of "Senza Populi" or "Tamanti Populi". His first name could come from ''Santu pieru'' (Saint Peter's day). *
Alphonse d'Ornano Alphonse d'Ornano (1548 - 20/21 January 1610) was a Marshal of France, active during the French Wars of Religion. He was born in Bastelica, Corsica, the son of Sampiero Corso and Vannina d'Ornano. He died in Paris and was buried in Bordeaux. He ...
, son of Sampiero Corso, born in Bastelica in 1548,
Marshal of France Marshal of France (, plural ') is a French military distinction, rather than a military rank, that is awarded to General officer, generals for exceptional achievements. The title has been awarded since 1185, though briefly abolished (1793–1804) ...
during the
French Wars of Religion The French Wars of Religion were a series of civil wars between French Catholic Church, Catholics and Protestantism, Protestants (called Huguenots) from 1562 to 1598. Between two and four million people died from violence, famine or disease di ...
, he died at
Bordeaux Bordeaux ( ; ; Gascon language, Gascon ; ) is a city on the river Garonne in the Gironde Departments of France, department, southwestern France. A port city, it is the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, as well as the Prefectures in F ...
in 1610.


See also

*
Communes of the Corse-du-Sud department The following is a list of the 124 Communes of France, communes of the departments of France, department of Corse-du-Sud, Corsica, France. The communes cooperate in the following Communes of France#Intercommunality, intercommunalities (as of 202 ...


References

{{authority control Communes of Corse-du-Sud