Meet a Chestnut Producer
An ancestral tradition
Nestled in the heart of the forested hilly chain of the Maures, Collobrières is the starting point for many walking itineraries. "Capital of the sweet chestnut ", Collobrières boats 2,220 acres of chestnut trees for a yearly production of hundreds of tons of chestnuts.
This peaceful & genuine village, one out of many in Var Provence, offers a rich local heritage & an authentic character supported by an impressive natural scenery.
Upon arrival in the village, visit a chestnut grove escorted by the local owner. This fruit production is limited to the Maures’ territory where the lack of enclosures within the groves, takes us back in time, when powerful landlords or religious communities would rule the area.
Your guide today on the spot is the owner of the chestnut grove you have entered ; he will share with you his knowledge of this centuries old tradition which was, and is still, supporting the local economy.
Chestnut: a world of flavours …
Chestnut jam, cream, cookies, candied or chestnut based beer or ice cream, you may have the chance to sample at least one or 2 of these while you visit the village at fall time, during the harvest period.
At that given time, each year, chestnut is celebrated for the last three weekends of October...Do not miss on its distinct flavour that develops when simply grilled …
What to do:
A lifestyle tour:
- Escorted tour of a chestnut grove
This tour can be run during the harvest period while the harvest goes on.
You’ll love:
- Meeting the chestnut producer
- Trying new flavours: candied chestnut or chestnut cream
- The panoramic drive in a forestry decor, the sight of long- life standing stones in the rural countryside
For more:
You will love the history of authentic & rural Collobrières which still lives on ancestral activities: chestnut & oak cork productions.
The possibility to combine the visit with:
- A tour of the “Confiserie Azuréenne” & chestnut museum
- A basket demo
- The visit of the Carthusian Monastery of La Verne (NB: maximum bus length to access the monastery is 8m long)
- A visit to a clay figures’ workshop
Duration: about 1h
