When does the chestnut season begin on the Côte d’Azur?

The chestnut season mainly runs from October to November. It is during this period that the towns and villages of the Côte d’Azur organise their traditional festivals, featuring farmers’ markets, tastings and entertainment.

Where can you enjoy the chestnut festivals in the countryside?

Head for the Tinée, Vésubie or Roya valleys! Isola, Valdeblore, Sospel, Tende and Saorge keep this autumnal tradition alive. In the Var, Collobrières and La Garde-Freinet welcome you to the heart of the Maures mountains.

Which chestnut festivals are worth visiting with the family?

The Cagnes-sur-Mer Chestnut Festival features, amongst other things, an educational farm, donkey and pony rides, and activities for children. Other towns organise shows, craft demonstrations and musical entertainment for the whole family to enjoy.

Do I need to book to take part?

Access to the markets and festivities is generally free. However, traditional meals may require a booking.

What specialities should you try during the chestnut festival?

As well as the traditional roasted chestnuts, make the most of the markets to discover local specialities: chestnut cream, jams, pastries, honey and handmade products. In some mountain villages, a stew served with polenta is also on the menu for the festivities!

Chestnut Festival 2026

Enjoy autumn on the Côte d’Azur!

When autumn arrives on the Côte d’Azur, the villages celebrate chestnut season!

From October to November, farmers’ markets, tastings, traditional music and entertainment invite young and old alike to enjoy a delicious treat. From the Nice hinterland to the Maures Mountains, discover the 2026 chestnut festivals and set off to explore the traditions and flavours of the Côte d’Azur region.

Chestnuts: a tradition that brings people together!

On the Côte d’Azur,autumn is about more than just its golden landscapes. It’s also the season for roasted chestnuts, mulled wine and local specialities!

The villages keep this culinary tradition alive through their markets and folk events. Along the coast, the festivities introduce both young and old to the flavours of the Côte d’Azur.

Why not make the most of these events to discover the Côte d’Azur in a different light?

In 2026

Where can you celebrate the chestnut festival on the Côte d’Azur?

Along the coast and in major cities

Nice – La Castagnada: date to be confirmed in 2026.

Antibes – Safranier Chestnut Festival: Saturday 7 November 2026.

Cagnes-sur-Mer – Chestnut Festival: Sunday 15 November 2026.

Saint-Paul-de-Vence – Grape Harvest and Chestnut Festival: Sunday 18 October 2026.

Saint-Laurent-du-Var – Grape Harvest and Chestnut Festival: Saturday 17 October 2026.

Villeneuve-Loubet – Castagnade organised by the Festival Committee: Friday 20 November 2026.

In the villages and mountain resorts

Valdeblore – Chestnut Festival: Sunday 25 October 2026.

Isola 2000 – Chestnut Festival: Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November 2026.

Sospel – Crafts and Chestnut Festival: Sunday 11 October 2026.

Tende: 2026 date to be confirmed.

Saorge – Chestnut Festival: Saturday 24 October 2026.

Le Broc – Chestnut Festival: Wednesday 11 November 2026.

Berre-les-Alpes – Chestnut Festival: Sunday 11 October 2026.

Tanneron – Chestnut Festival: Sunday 18 October 2026.

Collobrières – Chestnut and Local Produce Festivals: Sundays 11, 18 and 25 October 2026.

La Garde-Freinet – Chestnut Festival: Sundays 18 and 25 October and 8 November 2026.

Roasted chestnuts, markets and traditions:

What can you find at these festivals?

Chestnut festivals are the perfect opportunity to rediscover the culinary traditions of the Côte d’Azur! As you wander through the markets, discover local produce, chat with local craftspeople and treat yourself to seasonal specialities: chestnut cream, jams, honey and pastries.

But the festivities aren’t just about tasting! Demonstrations of traditional crafts, folk groups and traditional meals also form part of these popular events. In some mountain villages, a stew served with polenta keeps the festivities going around a large, convivial table.

An autumn day out to enjoy with the family!

Why not make the most of an autumn weekend to take the whole family to the chestnut festival? With food tastings, live music and the chance to discover local traditions, there’s something to keep young and old alike entertained all day long.
In Cagnes-sur-Mer, the festival even feels like a trip to the countryside, with its educational farm and donkey or pony rides! In the villages of the hinterland, children can discover traditional skills of yesteryear whilst their parents browse the local producers’ stalls. It’s a wonderful opportunity to spend some quality time together, before rounding off the day with a stroll through the narrow streets or the autumnal countryside.

Continue your journey through the mid- and high-altitude regions of the Côte d’Azur!

What if the festivities continued beyond the tastings?

Make the most of your day by strolling through the narrow streets of the hilltop villages, exploring the landscapes of the Roya Valley or heading for the mountain resorts.

From the Massif des Maures to the Tinée and Vésubievalleys,autumn reveals another side to the Côte d’Azur, with its forests, heritage and local traditions.

Explore the villages of the Côte d'Azur

©
Villages Perches Chateau Saint Agnes Isabelle Fabre
|
Isabelle Fabre

Why not discover the other traditional festivals on the Côte d’Azur?

The chestnut festivals are just a glimpse of the traditions that shape life in the villages of the Côte d’Azur! Patron saint’s days, carnivals, flower festivals and events celebrating local produce… Throughout the year, the Côte d’Azur celebrates its festive heritage.

From Nice to Menton, from Grasse to the Vésubie valleys, from the Roya to the Haut-Pays, every festival is an invitation to meet the people who keep the traditions of the Côte d’Azur alive.