Îles Lavezzi, cimetières et pyramide de la Sémillante

Bonifacio

Between Corsica and Sardinia, the îles Lavezzi are a small archipelago of rocky islets. In the night of 15 to 16 February 1855 the frigate Sémillante, carrying soldiers to the Crimean War, broke up there in a storm. The number of victims differs according to the texts: more than 400 soldiers and sailors for the Chemins de mémoire website, 693 for Wikipedia (EN), 773 men on board, all dead, according to the Mérimée database. As it was difficult to transport the bodies, they were buried on the spot, in two cemeteries linked by a path: Acciarino, with 118 graves, and Furcone, with 124 graves and a chapel. Wikipedia adds that about 600 bodies were recovered and that only the captain's grave bears a name. In 1856 the Ministry of War and the Navy had a pyramid of blocks raised, near the site of the wreck. The site has been listed as a historic monument since 1983. It is now maintained by the Armed Forces with the Office national des combattants et victimes de guerre, the commune of Bonifacio and the Office de l'environnement de la Corse. It is not a legend, but an attested account that makes these islands a place of memory.

Getting there: Islands off Bonifacio, in the nature reserve of the Bouches de Bonifacio; the conditions of visit (boats, reserve rules) were not verified. Coordinates: pyramid of the Sémillante in OpenStreetMap (the site covers several points of the islands).

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

Ambient sound