Monchique Chestnut Festival: A Unique Autumn Celebration in the Algarve

Autumn Festivals in Portugal’s Algarve Mountains

The seasons tend to have their quintessential moments or occasions - winter, of course, has Christmas while summer has village fetes and other outdoor festivals. Apart from the Harvest Festival celebrated by some religions and the overly commercial Halloween, autumn doesn’t have that much to offer when it comes to stand-out celebrations. So imagine my delight when I came across a small, but unique event in the mountains of southern Portugal recently.

Discovering the Festa da Castanha in Monchique

Held during the autumn chestnut season, the Monchique Chestnut Festival (Festa da Castanha) is part of the Algarve’s traditional inland calendar and reflects the Portuguese custom of celebrating autumn with roasted chestnuts.

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The mountainous Monchique region, surrounding the small and charming town of the same name, has a long association with chestnut growing and celebrates this delicious autumn crop with traditional local festivities.

A Chance Encounter in Monchique Town

I am told these events are staged in the villages of Marmelete and Alferce, but we quite literally stumbled upon one being held right there in the centre of Monchique. We were taking a walk around the wooded and fertile outskirts of this mountainous little town when we heard loud music emanating from somewhere in the centre of the place and I joked with my travel writer friend Lindsey Sutton that they are setting up a party to celebrate his birthday, which it happened to be.

But an hour later when strolling back into town we could smell smoke, hear music and see crowds entering a small doorway. We joined them and found ourselves in a small, steep public park laid out in terraces. These are filled with townsfolk, all gazing down towards the lower levels where a couple of rectangular shaped bonfires were being tended by men with rakes.

Traditional Roasting: Castanhas Assadas in Monchique

It was only when we drew closer that we realised the ashes of these fires consisted of small heaps of roasting chestnuts, which the men periodically stirred with their rakes to prevent the nuts burning too much on one side. The air was filled with the smoky, sweet scent of castanhas assadas (roasted chestnuts), which were being cooked in the traditional way over dried bundles of carqueja, a shrubby plant found in Portugal.

Every now and again these energetic fellows rake back the flaming bundles (which looked to me like dried heather) so that people could kneel down and grab themselves a handful of fully cooked, and outwardly charred, chestnuts.

A nice lady shoved a brown paper bag into my hand and invited me to join the throng, which I did most happily because I am a huge fan of these sweet-savoury roasted nuts when they’ve been roasted to just the right degree.

São Martinho Traditions & Local Culture

I was told the festival is an old celebration of this humble product, which once formed a vital part of the area’s economy.

A local person told me: “We always gather for the magusto, a communal party which is centred on the cooking and eating of chestnuts. Traditionally we drink the new year’s wine, and enjoy local spirits like medronho brandy and melosa.”

We, indeed, enjoyed a tot or two to join in with the fun. And although we are only there for half-an-hour I enjoyed the Festa da Castanha very much indeed and now regard it as a very lovely and welcome autumn celebration.

Algarve Walking Season – useful walking guide for the region - www.algarvewalkingseason.com

Via Algarviana - www.viaalgarviana.org

More Food and Travel in Monchique

The chestnut festival was just one of several memorable food experiences I discovered in the hills of the Algarve. Nearby, I also visited the remarkable Lagar dos Pardieiros olive oil mill, where Miguel Bigodinho showed me how his family combines traditional stone milling and cold-pressing methods with modern olive oil production.

You can also read my wider account of exploring the Algarve beyond its famous beaches and golf courses, including walking in the Monchique hills, traditional food, local crafts and the people keeping the region’s rural traditions alive.

Frequently Asked Questions About the

Chestnut Festival

What is the Monchique Chestnut Festival?

The Monchique Chestnut Festival, or Festa da Castanha, is an autumn celebration of chestnuts and traditional rural culture in the mountains of Portugal’s Algarve.

Where is Monchique?

Monchique is a small mountain town in the Serra de Monchique in the western Algarve, surrounded by wooded hills and countryside very different from the region’s better-known coastal resorts.

What happens at the Monchique Chestnut Festival?

When I visited, local people gathered around open fires where chestnuts were roasted in the traditional way. There was music, food and a wonderfully informal community atmosphere.

What are castanhas assadas?

Castanhas assadas are roasted chestnuts, a traditional Portuguese autumn food particularly associated with the cooler months and seasonal celebrations.