Citadelle de Corte / The Fortress of Corte (Corsica) - Historic Forts on Waymarking.com

Citadelle de Corte (The Fortress of Corte), built in 1419 by feudal Corsican lord Vincentello of Istria, is colloquially called "Nid d'Aigle" ("Eagle's Nest") by Corte's citicens.

Citadelle de Corte (The Fortress of Corte) is the only fortress in the Corsica's interior. The fortress' hill was already fortified in the 9th century, but in 1419 that Vincentello of Istria, Viceroy of Corsica as the King of Aragon, made himself master and built the present Gothic heart of fortress. The fortress was then used intermittently by the feudal lords of Corsica, or Genoese and French occupants.

The fortress area was reconstructed under reign of French kings Louis XV and Louis XVI. Later in the 18h century, national hero Pasquale Paoli made it the capital of his "government for the Corsican nation". During this period, to set up its first university, closed in 1769. In the next centuries military buildings were used as the garrison of the Corte and later converted into central prison for political prisoners. During the WWII, under the Italian occupation, of Corsican patriots were imprisoned there. Citadelle was from 1962 occupied by the French Foreign Legion, which had withdrawn from Algeria. Since 1983, when the Foreign Legion left the place, the fortress belongs to the city. You can currently visit the Eagle's Nest, the highest point of the citadel, and enjoy a panoramic vista over the city and its environs. Inside fortress are exhibition halls with exposition of historic photographs, lower parts of the fortress area are rebuided and used by Museum of Corsica. It's still in this city that is currently the only university of Corsica.