Cargèse: a rich religious and cultural heritage

Cargèse, nestled on the western coast of Corsica, is a gem of history and culture. The two iconic churches, facing each other, stand as a testament to the harmony between Latin and Greek traditions, while the Genoese towers dotting the coastline serve as reminders of past efforts to protect this beautiful village from invasions. Together, these elements form the rich cultural and religious heritage of Cargèse.

The churches of Cargèse: Witnesses to a dual heritage

In the heart of Corsica, Cargèse stands out for its unique history and exceptional cultural and religious heritage. In the 17th century, seeking refuge from Ottoman rule, 600 Greeks settled in Paomia. However, it was not until 1768, after numerous conflicts, that the French army under Count de Marbeuf established Cargèse as we know it today. From this rich history remain two majestic structures that bear witness to the past: two churches, one Latin and the other Greek, facing each other by the sea, immortalizing the village’s cultural duality.

The Church of St. Spiridon: the reflection of the Byzantine rite

Opposite the Latin Church, the church of Saint Spiridon, called « Greek », embodies the heritage of the Greek Catholic community of Helen. In the middle of the 19th century, the need for a place of worship for the 500 or so Greeks in the village became palpable. Thus, between 1868 and 1874, this church with neo-Gothic airs was erected. The interior reveals a neo-classical decoration, where an iconostasis, wooden partition decorated with icons and offered by the prefect of the « Propaganda Fide », separates the sanctuary from the nave.

Today, the two churches live together in harmony, opening their doors to the public and alternatively celebrating their offices. The view from their heights offers an unsurprising panorama of Cargese. This coexistence symbolizes the solidarity that has been woven between the two communities. Indeed, events such as the basil festival, the Holy Spiridon or Easter Monday see the entire village gather in the same fervour.

Cargeese is also home to other religious buildings such as the Church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste, a modest chapel in the hamlet of Lozzi, built in 1845, and the Church of St. Mary, located in the hamlet of Paomia.

Cargeese, with its two emblematic churches, is a living testimony to the history, cultural and religious diversity of Corsica. While the Greek church bewitches by its scents of exotic incense, the equally imposing Latin church also deserves a detour. These monuments illustrate the rich mosaic of a village where two cultures, once rival, today coexist in perfect harmony.

The Towers

The wealth of Cargese’s heritage, through its Genoese towers, offers not only breathtaking panoramas but also a plunge into Corsican history, between defence, resilience and culture.

The other towers of Cargese

Cargese, rich in its history, is monitored by three imposing Genoese towers, silent witnesses of a bygone era. The first, perched on a hill, is the Tower of Cargese that dominates the village. Then, the majestic tour of Orchinu, located at an altitude of 172 meters on the promontory of Punta d’Orchinu, offers a grandiose panorama on a maquis lined with cliffs and punctuated with agricultural remains such as dry stone walls, ruined cobbies and threshing grounds. The Tower of Omigna, on the other hand, has its own history, mentioned earlier.

These buildings, dating from the 16th century, were erected to defend themselves against the Barbary invasions. Their usefulness was vital, and the Torregiani, the guardians of these towers, played a crucial role. Armed with fire signals, they alerted the population to imminent threats. Thanks to the strategic position of the towers, one being visible from another, the signals could be relayed quickly, covering the whole of Corsica in a surprisingly short period of time.

The collaboration between these towers was essential, especially between the towers of Orchinu, Omigna and Capu Rossu, financed in 1505 by the pieve of Paomia, Revinda and Salona. Although Corsica had grown up to 120 towers along its coastline in the 18th century, today only thirty remain, testifying to the resilience and determination of the Corsicans through the ages.