Chestnut and Törggelen Weeks in Jenesien

Chestnut and Törggelen Weeks in San Genesio Atesino

The Kastanien- und Törggelewochen are the most anticipated autumn event in San Genesio Atesino (known in German as Jenesien), a village on the plateau overlooking Bolzano, in the Autonomous Province of Bolzano (South Tyrol, Trentino-Alto Adige region). Every year, from mid-to-late October, the San Genesio Tourist Board joins forces with local farmers and innkeepers to organize a rich calendar dedicated to the chestnut and Törggelen, the Tyrolean custom that marks the transition from autumn to winter.

The village of chestnut trees

San Genesio Atesino is renowned for being the municipality with the highest number of chestnut trees in all of South Tyrol: some of the province's oldest chestnut trees grow on the sunny slopes of the plateau. In autumn, the chestnut harvest (known in dialect as Keschtn) becomes a collective ritual: the fruits are hand-picked, selected, and brought directly to the inns, customers, and village shops. This abundance sets the stage for these gastronomic weeks.

What is Törggelen?

Törggelen is a South Tyrolean farming tradition that involves visiting rural farmsteads and inns to taste new wine (Nuier), accompanied by roasted chestnuts, speck, dumplings, sauerkraut, Schlutzkrapfen, and traditional desserts. The name comes from the wine press (Torggl in German) used for crushing grapes. In San Genesio, authentic Törggelen is best experienced in the traditional taverns of the Avigna and Cologna hamlets, while in Valas and the main village, restaurants offer menus entirely focused on the chestnut.

The program of the weeks

Alongside the seasonal menus served in participating farmsteads and restaurants, the weeks feature numerous side events:

• Törggelefest in the hamlets, with music, chestnuts, and local specialties;
• guided chestnut hikes (Kastanienwanderungen) with tastings along the way;
• the Keschtnpfonn, the chestnut gourmet market that enlivens the village center;
• events related to alpine farming life, such as the autumn cattle drive;
• cooking classes and events at the Haflinger Horse Museum.

An autumn of taste above Bolzano

Easily accessible from Bolzano via the historic San Genesio cable car, the plateau offers golden views of the Dolomites, crisp air, and the warm hospitality of farming families during this period. The Kastanien- und Törggelewochen are the perfect opportunity to discover South Tyrolean gastronomic culture in its most authentic form, far from the most crowded tourist routes.