Chestnut
The gaillards eat chestnuts, often with rare meats, but they never feel any pain... just like gaillards!
Chestnuts, a useful fruit
Chestnuts have always been present in Corrèze and the wider Limousin region. And it has served us well! For many years, this fruit was the only meal available to farmers in the region. The chestnut tree was known as the "breadfruit tree". In fact, it was the farmers themselves who grew the chestnut trees near their homes.
As well as eating it, they also fed it to their animals, especially the pigs. So as not to lose anything, chestnut wood was also widely used on farms. It was used to make posts, fences, firewood and even timber for carpentry and furniture.
The history of chestnut growing in Limousin
Chestnut production reached its peak in Limousin in the 17th and 18th centuries. In 1815, Corrèze produced 500 hectolitres of chestnuts, and by 1852 this figure had risen to almost 34% of the department's surface area.
Unfortunately, chestnut growing declined dramatically in France in the 19th century. This was due to a number of factors: the agricultural and industrial revolutions, the deforestation of chestnut trees to harvest tannin and wood, and the arrival of the ink disease in 1871. All these factors led to a 70% drop in production between 1890 and 1920.
Chestnuts in local gastronomy
Although no longer ubiquitous in our region, chestnuts are still very much a part of our local cuisine. Chestnuts are used in local recipes, particularly for stuffing, such as the famous chestnut puddings from Uzerche.
You can also find our beloved chestnuts in terrines, as an accompaniment to all kinds of meats, in liqueurs and, of course, in pastries and other delicacies.
If you'd like to try out all our chestnut specialities, you'll need to get started right away!
You can also attend the chestnut and marron fair in Beynat in autumn.
Practical information
To find out more about chestnuts, go to
La ferme de Brossard - Écomusée de la châtaigne : Brossard - 19190 LANTEUIL. Tel. 05 55 85 59 21 or 06 81 96 13 38
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