Eurocastanea Conference
Since 2010, Eurocastanea has been organising the annual European Chestnut Days, a benchmark event that brings together the main players in the sector: farmers, cooperatives, companies, authorities, research centres and organisations involved in the production, processing, promotion and marketing of chestnuts.
This conference has established itself as a key space for the exchange of experiences, the transfer of knowledge and the promotion of innovation in the cultivation of chestnut trees, encouraging networking between professionals from all over Europe.
The next edition, the XV European Chestnut Days, will be held from 10 to 14 September 2025 in the Natural Park Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche Huelva, Andalusia, an area of great chestnut tradition. See our programme and register.
Since 2010, Eurocastanea has been organising the annual European Chestnut Days, a benchmark event that brings together the main players in the sector: farmers, cooperatives, companies, authorities, research centres and organisations involved in the production, processing, promotion and marketing of chestnuts.
This conference has established itself as a key space for the exchange of experiences, the transfer of knowledge and the promotion of innovation in the cultivation of chestnut trees, encouraging networking between professionals from all over Europe.
The next edition, the XV European Chestnut Days, will be held from 10 to 14 September 2025 in the Natural Park Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche Huelva, Andalusia, an area of great chestnut tradition. See our programme and register.
Sierra de Aracena and Picos de Aroche Nature Reserve
In 2025, the 15th European Chestnut Conference will take place from September 10 to 14, 2025 in the Sierra de Aracena and Picos de Aroche Natural Park, Huelva, Andalusia, a region with a strong chestnut-growing tradition. The event is organized with the essential collaboration of the Andalusian Chestnut Platform, which will showcase the diversity and potential of chestnut cultivation in Andalusia. Check out our program and register now.
Located in the north of the province of Huelva, at the western end of the Sierra Morena, the Sierra de Aracena and Picos de Aroche Natural Park is known for its vast forested areas, mild climate, and high rainfall, which together support a unique biodiversity. This mountainous region is dominated by extensive dehesas, ideal for raising Iberian pigs, an activity around which a significant industry has developed, sustaining much of the local economy.
The park's landscape varies depending on altitude and humidity: holm oaks give way to cork oaks in certain areas, while the higher and more humid zones are dominated by oaks and chestnut trees. The Huelva chestnut grove, one of the park’s most iconic features, spans 3,300 hectares and is home to around 270,000 chestnut trees, many of them centuries old. This forested area preserves unique native varieties such as Ancha de Alájar, Comisaria, Helechal, and Diego Vázquez, which contribute valuable genetic diversity to global chestnut production.
In the areas along riverbanks and watercourses, the so-called gallery forests are made up of poplars, ash trees, willows, and alders, accompanied by brambles and climbing plants. This rich vegetation supports a wide variety of wildlife. Additionally, the park’s villages preserve a valuable historical and cultural heritage, making a visit to this natural gem of Andalusia an unmissable experience for those who wish to explore it in depth.
