Chestnut Market Exhibition (La Castagna)

The chestnut festival in the heart of Valle Varaita

The Chestnut Market Exhibition in Venasca, in the province of Cuneo (Piedmont), is one of the most deeply rooted autumn events in the Terre del Monviso. Known to everyone simply as "La Castagna," the festival celebrates the iconic fruit of the Valle Varaita and the entire mountain agricultural economy that revolves around the chestnut forests. For four days, the town's historic center fills with stalls, the scent of roasted chestnuts, and Occitan traditions.

A historic event

Reaching its thirty-fifth edition in 2026, the event is organized by the Municipality of Venasca and has grown over time to become a benchmark for the entire Saluzzo area. In recent editions, the main Sunday has attracted thousands of visitors, with around fifty stalls featuring producers and artisans and thousands of portions of roasted chestnuts distributed. It is not just a gastronomic festival: it is a celebration of a territory showcasing its crafts, its cuisine, and its Alpine identity.

Mountain flavors and traditions

The delicious heart of the festival lies in the typical products of Valle Varaita: chestnuts in their prized varieties, as well as mountain cheeses, honey, jams, ravioles, and crousèt, the traditional pastas of the valley. Friday evening is dedicated to the grand Piedmontese boiled meat dinner, while throughout the weekend there are show cooking sessions, tastings, and the unmissable aroma of roasted chestnuts in the town squares.

Culture, excursions, and the Golden Chestnut

• The Golden Chestnut award ceremony, honoring individuals and organizations that bring prestige to the territory.
• Conferences dedicated to the gastronomic traditions and the economy of the valley.
• Guided walks and excursions on the 'òc trails around Venasca.
• Activities for children, animated readings, and art workshops.
• Occitan music, performances by Valle Varaita musicians, and evening entertainment.

Don't miss the guided tours of the Fabbrica dei Suoni (Sound Factory), a unique interactive museum dedicated to sound and music that opens with special shifts during "La Castagna." It is the perfect opportunity to discover Venasca and the Valle Varaita in the most beautiful colors of the Cuneo autumn.