Corsican separatists bomb luxury second homes as property market stays resilient

The armed wing of Corsica’s independence movement, the National Liberation Front of Corsica (FLNC), has been detonating and torching million-dollar vacation homes since October 2023, with 34 properties hit in a single overnight spree and another blast reported in March 2026. The attacks focus on empty second homes owned by mainland French and foreign buyers, but the market shows little sign of weakening; a 2026 Corsican Assembly report notes that such homes account for roughly 37% of all housing and as much as 50% in certain coastal towns.

The FLNC recently held a press conference warning tourists and prospective buyers to stay away, framing the violence as a demand for recognition of Corsican national rights. Politically, the French Senate is set to vote on a constitutional amendment that would acknowledge Corsica’s distinct language and give the regional government new powers over zoning and waste management, marking a symbolic victory for the separatists.

Nevertheless, the amendment does not grant control over property ownership, a core demand of hard-line factions. Analysts describe the bombings as a tactical success, while some locals continue to buy and even renovate homes despite the threats.