Festival: Feria de la Castaña (Yunquera) When: Late October

There is a moment in late October when the light changes. The sun gets lower, the air gets crisp, and the mountains turn rusty orange.

We call it the Bosque de Cobre (The Copper Forest).

In the village of Yunquera, this signals one thing: Chestnuts.

Before the madness of the olive harvest begins, the village takes a breath to roast chestnuts over open fires. The smell of woodsmoke and roasted nuts fills the narrow streets. It’s the smell of winter coming.

This festival is about the tostón. You stand around the fire, peeling hot chestnuts that burn your fingers, drinking local wine or aguardiente (firewater).

It’s a reminder that the seasons dictate our diet. In summer, we eat cold soup. In autumn, we eat roasted nuts. And in winter? We press the oil.

The Vibe: Get outside. Light a fire. Roast something. And make sure you have a bottle of oil ready for whatever comes off the grill.

https://www.yunquera.es/feria-del-vino-y-la-castana-yunquera-2025