B&B
267 m
Chambres d'hôtes À l'Ombre du Clocher
Calenzana (5 chemin U Terraghiu) · GR20 km 0
B&B run by a couple in the centre of the village, a short walk from the restaurants and the start of the path. It…
Elevation profile
0 m250 m500 m750 m1,000 m1,250 m1,500 m1,750 m0 km2 km4 km6 km8 km10 kmRefuge d'Ortu di u Piobbu 1,520 m
| Waypoint | Altitude | Km |
|---|---|---|
| Calenzana | 275 m | 0 km |
| Chaînes de Capu Ghiovu | 1,420 m | 7.9 km |
| Refuge d'Ortu di u Piobbu | 1,520 m | 11.6 km |
The route
The stage starts at the top of the village of Calenzana, near the Sant'Antone fountain. The trail heads straight into the maquis (scrubland) on a steady climb that is often baking in the sun: set off very early, all the more so as a municipal by-law prohibits starting the GR20 from Calenzana after 11 am.
The climb continues through pine trees and then over granite slabs, with a first chain-equipped section below Capu Ghiovu. The views over the Bay of Calvi widen with every switchback, before a gentler traverse leads to the Ortu di u Piobbu hut, at the foot of Monte Corona.
As the hut was destroyed by fire in 2019, you sleep under canvas here: bivouac area and rental tents, with meals provided by the hut warden. Book this one early: it is one of the most sought-after sites on the route.
Practical tips
- Set off before 8 am to climb through the maquis while it is still cool: heat is the first trap of the GR20.
- Fill your water bottles in Calenzana and at the Ortiventi and Arghioa springs: there is little water on the climb.
- No dormitory in 2026: book a bivouac pitch or a rental tent on the Park's booking platform.
Water points and tricky sections
3 water points listed on this stage and 1 tricky section (chains, ladders, exposed steps). Springs can run dry in late summer: ask the hut wardens and treat the water if in doubt.
| Km | Point | Type | Altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 km | Fontaine Sant'Antone | Water point | 294 m |
| 1.8 km | Fontaine d'Ortiventi | Water point | 534 m |
| 4.5 km | Source d'Arghioa | Water point | 789 m |
| 7.8 km | Chaînes de Capu Ghiovu | Tricky section | 1,420 m |
Source: refuges.info (CC BY-SA), points less than 250 m from the trail.
Stage map
Where to stay on stage 1?
Accommodation along the stage, at the finish or on its variants, in walking order.
Calenzana 4 places to stay
Gîte
231 m
Gîte d'étape communal de Calenzana
Calenzana (village entrance, Pian d'Aregno locality) · GR20 km 0
Municipal accommodation at the entrance to Calenzana, a few minutes from the official start of the GR20 and the…
Hotel
271 m
Hôtel Bel Horizon
Calenzana (4 place Prince Pierre, opposite the Saint-Blaise church) · GR20 km 0
Small one-star hotel in the heart of old Calenzana, right opposite the church. Its twelve simple rooms suit a last…
B&B
278 m
Chambres d'hôtes A Casa
Calenzana (2 rue Rappalli) · GR20 km 0.1
Characterful B&B in the heart of the village, which emphasises its proximity to the start of the GR20 and the Mare e…
Refuge d'Ortu di u Piobbu 2 places to stay
Campsite
1,520 m
©Aire de bivouac d'Ortu di u Piobbu
Ortu di u Piobbu · GR20 km 11.3
With no hut since the 2019 fire, this is where everyone sleeps at the end of the first stage. You pitch your own tent…
Refugebuilding works
1,520 m
©Refuge d'Ortu di u Piobbu
Ortu di u Piobbu (below Monte Corona) · GR20 km 11.3
The first PNRC site on the GR20, reached after a demanding climb from Calenzana. The building was destroyed by fire in…