Keschtnigl-Wochen / Velturno Chestnut Weeks

The Chestnut Weeks in Velturno

The Keschtnigl-Wochen, or Chestnut Weeks, are among the most beloved autumn events in South Tyrol. Every year, between mid-October and early November, the municipality of Velturno (Feldthurns) in the province of Bolzano dedicates three full weeks to the season's signature fruit: the chestnut, affectionately called Keschtn in the local dialect.

Established in 1997, the event has become a staple of the South Tyrolean Törggelen calendar. Velturno boasts approximately 3,300 chestnut trees that define the village's cultural landscape, spread across the sunny slopes of the Isarco Valley: an agricultural heritage that gives meaning and roots to the entire festival.

The Program

Throughout the weeks, a series of guided tours, hikes, tastings, and farmers' markets takes place. The calendar revolves around key events that mark the beginning and conclusion of the festival:

• Official inauguration and Törggelen market, which kicks off the weeks in the heart of the village, often in the setting of the castle;
• Guided hikes on the Chestnut Trail, with stops at local taverns for the Törggelen ritual;
• Themed walks for children and families, dedicated to discovering the chestnut forest;
• "Niglmarkt" Chestnut Market, featuring roasted chestnuts, traditional products, and local specialties;
• "Keschtnigl-Sunntig" Final Festival, the closing Sunday that brings the whole village to life with tastings and music.

Törggelen, the heart of the South Tyrolean autumn

The Chestnut Weeks are deeply rooted in Törggelen, the ancient farming tradition of the Isarco Valley: as autumn sets in, people gather in taverns and farmhouses to sample new wine paired with roasted chestnuts, speck, dumplings, sauerkraut, and chestnut-based desserts. In Velturno, this ritual becomes a widespread celebration that blends nature, gastronomy, and conviviality.

Velturno, a village in the Isarco Valley

Situated on a panoramic terrace above Chiusa, Velturno is famous for its Velturno Castle, the former summer residence of the prince-bishops of Bressanone. The event is organized by the Tourist Association of Chiusa, Barbiano, Velturno, and Villandro, and offers an ideal opportunity to discover the South Tyrolean autumn through its traditions, flavors, and landscapes.