Castagnata di Lillianes

The land of chestnuts

In Lillianes, in the Gressoney Valley at the foot of Monte Rosa, the chestnut is not just an autumn fruit but a true symbol of identity. The municipality is, in fact, the leading producer of chestnuts in the Aosta Valley, and from this heritage was born the Castagnata di Lillianes, considered the oldest festival of its kind in the region.

The competition-exhibition and the golden marrone

The heart of the event is the chestnut competition-exhibition: local producers display their finest fruits, judged by a panel that awards prizes and, most importantly, the prestigious "marrone d'oro" (golden marrone). The award ceremony, attended by regional and municipal authorities, is the most anticipated moment, celebrating the territory's excellence in chestnut cultivation.

Tradition, faith, and folklore

The programme intertwines Holy Mass, the jury's deliberations, performances by the folk group, and the sharing of chestnut-based dishes. There is also space for solidarity, with initiatives dedicated to children. The village hosts the Chestnut Museum, located in the "Il Riccio" cooperative building, which manages the collection, selection, drying, and sale of the fruit. Sunday is the main day of the event, filled with autumn flavours and community celebration in the municipality of Lillianes, in the province of Aosta.