France is one of the other countries where a large number of holidays and festivals dedicated to gastronomy are held. The French believe that a sense of taste and understanding of well-prepared food should be brought up in people since childhood as a reading ability.
In France, you will hardly meet the places that the so-called « fast food » offer. What could be better than a steak fried on coals, or sea bass fillet with sauce? Therefore, you cannot pass by such an unusual date as the Chestnut Festival.
The French value this product very much and consider it national. And it was they who first began to cultivate it, and not just collect wild fruits. A chestnut tree came to Europe from the East. The Benedictines of the Abbey of St. Dalm de Pedon in the 11th century brought chestnut fruits to the market, making them an element of the local economy. By the way, in France they grow a certain variety of chestnuts — kugurdons.
Until potatoes spread in France, chestnut was one of the main sources of food for the poor. They made flour from it, cooked soups, fried. Apparently, therefore, in a number of regions of the country, chestnuts were dubbed « bread tree ». But by the 18th century, the attitude towards the nut had changed, and he took a strong position on the tables of all social groups, but already in the form of a delicacy.
Today, honoring traditions, in the second half of October the country is enveloped in the aroma of fried chestnuts. They are cooked right on the street, smell captive and it is impossible to pass by. No one can deprive himself of the pleasure that the little bag of chestnuts is fraught with. The unusual, unlike anything, taste of this treat is difficult to describe, but it is impossible to forget.
On the streets there are roasting panes for nuts, and the restaurateurs, competing with each other, offer new dishes from an amazingly delicious fruit. These days, the weather is usually very warm and sunny, and the smell of fried chestnuts that flies all over the streets helps to penetrate the spirit of the holiday.
This event is part of a week of taste that takes place in all regions of France, starting on Monday 3rd. In turn, they celebrate the holiday of Shukrut, where you can try sauerkraut with sausages, polished beer, Spice Festival, Cider Festival, Fish Festival.
By the way, in the small village of Marzhu at the same time, a two-day Chestnut Festival is held annually, up to three tons of nuts are fried for its participants. In 1999, the TAG1 Theme Museum was even opened here.
The chestnut festival is celebrated on a special scale and in the small ski resort of Isola. Here, a picturesque chestnut grove is located right in the center of the village. Local nuts are especially appreciated by the French.
From year to year, residents of Isola arrange a « chestnut ball ». In addition to thematic decorations, the tables decorate various snacks with the addition of chestnuts. In addition, the event cannot be held without folklore, music and various competitions. Various sports competitions, theater productions depicting the path of a chestnut from the Balkans to France take place on the squares.