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Origin and history

The Lavezzi Islands form an archipelago of 23 islands and granite reefs located 10 km southeast of Bonifacio, in South Corsica. The most southern point in metropolitan France, they took their name from Lavezzo Island, where a lighthouse was built in 1874. The archipelago, accessible only by sea, is distinguished by its turquoise waters and its preserved landscapes, with a maximum altitude of 39 meters.

The history of the Lavezzi was marked by the sinking of the frigate La Sémillante in 1855, one of the worst disasters of the French navy. Transporting 773 men to the Crimean war, the ship sank in a storm left no survivors. The 560 bodies found lie in two cemeteries on Lavezzo Island, where a memorial stele and an altar remind the tragedy. A shepherd witness to the tragedy reportedly lit a fire to alert Bonifacio, inspiring the height of the monument.

Prehistoric traces, including neolithic rock shelters, Roman remains and a 7th century chapel, testify to an ancient occupation. Since 1982, the Lavezzi are an integrated nature reserve in the International Marine Park of Bonifacio, protecting a unique biodiversity. Only four islands, including Cavallo (inhabited), allow landing.

The archipelago is also famous for its cinematographic landscapes, having served as a setting for films such as Manina, the girl without sails (1953) with Brigitte Bardot, or Liza (1972) with Catherine Deneuve. The seabed, such as the Mérouville site, attracts divers, while hikers explore its granite and underwater trails.

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