Bergeries are mountain huts where Corsican shepherds (called bergers) tend their flocks during the summer months. These particular bergeries are located only a short distance (probably about 1 kilometer) from the Col De Verghio, the highest mountain pass in Corsica. This is about 25KM from Calacuccia and is reached by taking a winding road through a large pine forest.
We park the car at the pass right in front of the large statue of Jesus and set out on the trail. This is the same trail we were on yesterday just somewhat further up the way. The path slopes up for a while providing a great look at the entire valee de Niolo.
We can see that the path is heading toward a large stone wall with almost no vegetation. The Bergeries is just at the base of that wall.
We have to carefully clamber down rocks, in some places with the assistance of chains.
Finally we cross over a small mountain stream via a couple of wooden planks and we have reached the Bergeries.
One of the unseen bonuses of having reached the Bergeries is that for the last several hundred feet we have actually been hiking a very small portion of the GR20 hiking trail. The GR20 is widely considered to be one of the best trails in the world. It runs along the spine of Corsica's mountains offering a 15-20 day mental and physical challenge that even the best hikers can find difficult. The rewards include some of the best landscapes and high mountain ridges imaginable. I wish I was physically able to do a trail like this but it just isn't possible. Instead I'll just have to settle for making this very brief appearance on the trail.
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