Property HFT56236, Holiday for rental in Olmeto, Corsica, France

Corsica is a land of shepherds guiding their flocks between the mountains and the coast as the seasons pass. Traditional shepherds' dwellings found across Corsica are made of ancient stone and known as 'bergeries'. We have been fortunate enough to discover two beautifully converted cosy bergeries set in enchanting maquis covered surroundings. If you are looking for peace and tranquility, you need look no further as bird song accompanies your morning shower and the endless forest pathways provide you with the perfect excuse to lose yourself in these magical surroundings. The hillside they are set on, below Olmeto, used to be planted with acres of olive trees to supply the 22 olive presses that once thrived here. Some of the hundred year old trees remain; producing a tasty black olive, called 'zinzala' which can be enjoyed with an aperitif on the port at Propriano or in one of Olmeto's several bars.U Broccu gets its name from the wooden yoke used to hold a bucket when fetching water from the stream and the hooks on the wall in the 'den' are where the broccu would be hung when the shepherds weren't using it. Straight out of a fairytale, the entrance to U Broccu is a low door with a solid stone plinth. Tiny windows prick the thick-set stone and gaze out onto the forest. Inside, there is one cosy bedroom, a shower room and a small living-dining area on the first floor and tiny den on the ground floor. The first floor is accessed via ten stone steps and there are no handrails, so care should be taken. There is a delightful plunge pool at terrace level.U Palmentu is a truly remarkable dwelling, built around a giant sized rock. No original detail has been sacrificed in the conversion of this bergerie and the ancient stone walls remain intact. On the first floor, there is a small den with the snug bedroom, shower room, living area and kitchen to be found on the ground floor. Outside the bergerie is an old 'fouloir' where, in times gone by, grapes would have been crushed by foot. The piece de resistance however is the natural plunge pool fed by the stream which runs only ten metres from your door across the wooded grounds. Here you can sit and let the mountain fresh water wash away all your worries.If you ever tire of these beautiful wooded surroundings, the beaches of the Valinco Gulf are only a 15 minute drive away, while the attractions of Propriano are also within easy reach by car.