Fête de la Châtaigne d'Éguzon

The Chestnut, Emblem of the Creuse Valley

Since 1986, the Fête de la Châtaigne d'Éguzon has paid tribute to a fruit intimately linked to the identity of the Creuse Valley. The chestnut groves covering the hillsides around Lake Éguzon have fed generations of inhabitants and shaped the landscapes of this territory. Every year, at All Saints' Day, the town of Éguzon-Chantôme transforms into a huge open-air festival dedicated to this autumn fruit. The 260 volunteers of the Confrérie de la Châtaigne and the organizing association mobilize to offer 20,000 visitors a warm and authentic event.

1,500 kg of Chestnuts and 15 Tons of Apples

The beating heart of the festival is the tasting of grilled chestnuts. The famous grills fill the streets of Éguzon with the characteristic aroma of roasted chestnuts: 1,500 kg are grilled and distributed to visitors. In parallel, 15 tons of apples are pressed on-site to produce fresh sweet cider, offered for tasting. A market with 80 exhibitors offers chestnut-based products—creams, jams, cakes, liqueurs—as well as artisanal objects made from chestnut wood and local Berry specialties.

Hiking Show and Landscape Discovery

Alongside the gastronomic festival, a Hiking Show brings together about thirty exhibitors from all over France to present hiking routes, equipment, and destinations. Three days of marked walking tours are organized around Lake Éguzon, offering breathtaking panoramas of the Creuse Valley. The main 31 km circuit circles the entire lake, with 15 km and 16 km variants. Nearly 3,000 hikers participate each year in these guided outings.

Traditional Meals and Festive Evenings

The Fête de la Châtaigne offers traditional meals based on local products and chestnuts, by reservation: the country dinner on Thursday evening and the Castagnaires dinner on Saturday evening bring together hundreds of guests in a friendly atmosphere. Concerts, musical entertainment with bands, and shows punctuate the two days of festivities. The Boissellerie des bricoleurs (woodcraft exhibition) complements the program on Friday.

An Unmissable Event in Berry

Recognized far beyond the borders of Indre, the Fête de la Châtaigne d'Éguzon has become an unmissable event of the Berry autumn. It contributes to the tourist and economic dynamism of the Creuse Valley, highlighting an exceptional natural and gastronomic heritage. The Confrérie de la Châtaigne, created in 1996, ensures the promotion and preservation of the chestnut tree and all the know-how surrounding it.