Rue Napoléon

Rue Napoléon, the gateway to Terra Vecchia

The Bastia audio-guided tour takes you along Rue Napoléon, typically Bastian, which marks the entrance to the Terra Vecchia district, the oldest in the city. Halfway between Place Saint-Nicolas and the Old Port, it is a charming shopping street.

Napoleon, a son of Corsica

If the great French emperor is everywhere present here, it is because he was born in Corsica, in Ajaccio. He spent the first nine years of his life on the island, before leaving to study at Brienne. Beyond his military victories, Napoleon set up great institutions still in use, notably the Civil Code of 1804. The street that bears his name recalls this deep link between Corsica and the history of France.

What there is to see

Lined with shops, Rue Napoléon links Place Saint-Nicolas to Rue des Terrasses and the Old Port. It shelters several remarkable buildings, including the Saint-Roch oratory and the Immaculate Conception oratory, jewels of Genoese religious art. It is an ideal walk to enter the atmosphere of the old town.

Practical information

Rue Napoléon is in the historic centre of Bastia, between Place Saint-Nicolas and the Old Port, at the entrance to the Terra Vecchia district. It can be walked freely at all hours; the shops and oratories along it keep their own hours.

Why is the street named after Napoleon?

Because Napoleon was born in Corsica, in Ajaccio, and spent his first nine years there. The emperor is a very present figure on the island.

Which district does Rue Napoléon serve?

The street marks the entrance to the Terra Vecchia district, the oldest in Bastia, and links Place Saint-Nicolas to the Old Port.