Sagra della Castagna di Donnas

The chestnut festival of Donnas

Every October, the town of Donnas, in the Bassa Valle d'Aosta (province of Aosta), celebrates autumn with the Sagra della Castagna (Chestnut Festival), one of the most deeply rooted food and wine events in the region. The star is the typical Donnas chestnut, a fruit of an ancient chestnut-growing tradition: according to a local legend, the very name of the town might derive from the donnasc variety of chestnut cultivated on the terraces surrounding the village.

A tradition organized by the Pro Loco

The festival is organized by the Pro Loco of Donnas and is traditionally held on the second Sunday of October, extending over the entire weekend. It's an event that brings generations of the town together around the chestnut and the flavours of Aosta Valley cuisine, in a festive atmosphere that attracts visitors from all over the valley.

Roasted chestnuts, polenta, and the Golden Chestnut

The program alternates gastronomic evenings and traditional moments. Friday is dedicated to the Bavarian dinner, with speck spätzle, pork knuckle, sausage, and themed specialties; Saturday features a dancing evening with an orchestra; Sunday, the main day, offers a traditional Aosta Valley lunch with polenta served with sausage or stew. In the afternoon, volunteers distribute roasted chestnuts (caldarroste), the mendaye competition (chestnut roasting, open to all) takes place, and the event concludes with the awarding of the Golden Chestnut (Castagna d'Oro).

An Aosta Valley autumn identity

The Sagra della Castagna di Donnas is much more than a village festival: it's the moment when the community celebrates its connection to the mountains and to a fruit that has nourished generations. Alongside the more famous Grape Festival (Sagra dell'Uva), it tells the story of the food and wine identity of Donnas and the entire Aosta Valley Region.