Close-up photograph of chestnuts on a stall at the Collobrières Chestnut Fair — ©The Chestnut Fair in Collobrières, in the Var department|Celindano.A

The chestnut, the star of Autumn in the Sud

A local product in the limelight in Provence and on the Côte d'Azur

Harvested in the Massif des Maures, the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and the Maralpine valleys, the chestnut from the South of France is a delight prepared as a cream. It lights up our autumns on walks in the forest or in traditional chestnut fairs.

Enjoy chestnut cream

A beneficial, comforting local cream

As a spread, to put in your pastries or just a spoonful out of the jar… Sweet and creamy, chestnut cream from Provence and the Côte d’Azur is a delight all year round and so comforting when autumn comes. It’s good for the morale and also for the body: the highly nutritious fruit of the chestnut tree is rich in slow sugars, minerals and vitamins. The keen chestnut growers of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur – more and more of them are certified organic – make it with love: after harvesting, which is carried out by hand from September to November, the fresh chestnuts are cooked and peeled. The flesh is extracted, pressed and mixed with sugar. An excellent local product, chestnut cream made in Sud is produced in the Massif des Maures, in the Var. The village of Collobrières is now strongly linked to this savoir-faire. It is also to be found in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, around Annot, Le Fugeret and the Plateau d’Albion. And also to the east of the Alpes-Maritimes, in the Roya and Tinée valleys.

Jars of chestnut cream on a stall — ©The Chestnut Fair in Collobrières, in the Var department Acelindano|Celindano.A

Chestnut leaves in autumn — ©Leaves of a chestnut tree in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur in autumn|YZok/Unsplash

Explore chestnut groves

Chestnuts bring out sports challenges and nature outings

In autumn, he chestnut is also (a very good) excuse for great sports challenges: the Trail des Châtaignes du Fugeret, (10 or 21 km) through chestnut groves or the forests of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence with their autumn colours. Collobrières also challenges runners with the traditional Course de la Châtaigne (10 km), a hilly course through little streets, vineyards and small ascents. The little extra for motivation: a jar of chestnut cream is awarded to each runner entering the race! In a more gentle mode, Collobrières offers a guided walk with a guide/lecturer to discover the history of cork and chestnuts, which are both emblematic of the Massif des Maures. And in Braux, between the Verdon Natural Regional Park and the Préalpes d’Azur Park, the Découverte de la Châtaigne discovery trail, an easy 1½ hour (4.30 km) walk, winds through the chesnlut groves. Great for an autumn ramble.

Come and celebrate the chestnut

Every autumn, all over the Sud, there’s a friendly, warm and greedy atmosphere

Every year in October, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur pays homage to the fruit of the chestnut tree, a precious resource which has helped generations in the Mediterranean hinterland avoid famine. The traditional chestnut fairs, which are synonymous with taste experiences and shared pleasure are an opportunity to meet producers and stock up on jars of chestnut cream for the coming months!

In the Var :

Fête de la châtaigne in Collobrières
Fête de la châtaigne in Camps la Source
Fête de la châtaigne in La-Garde-Freinet
Fête de la châtaigne in Pignans
Fête de la châtaigne in Tanneron
Fête de la châtaigne in Gonfaron
Fête de la châtaigne in Mayons

In the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence

Fête de la châtaigne in Le Fugeret

In the Alpes-Maritimes

Fête de la châtaigne in Isola
Fête de la châtaigne in Saorge
Fête des vendanges et des châtaignes in Saint-Paul-de-Vence
Fête des châtaignes de la commune libre du Safranier (in Antibes)
Fête de la châtaigne in Valdeblore