Olmeda de las Fuentes Chestnut Festival Showcases Galician Tradition

Olmeda de las Fuentes, a small town of about 400 residents in the Community of Madrid, holds an annual Magosto celebration that brings a traditional Galician chestnut festival to the Castilian countryside. The event features open fires, roasted chestnuts, spiced hot wine, traditional music and communal gatherings, attracting both locals and visitors from Madrid in a night that reproduces the atmosphere of the north‑west forests.

At the same time, the Association Galega das Castañas e dos Soutos, led by secretary José Queijas, is running a campaign to educate the public on the historical and nutritional importance of chestnuts in Galicia. The association stresses that chestnuts served as the primary source of carbohydrates for centuries in interior Galicia, are gluten‑free, and differ nutritionally from typical nuts, positioning them as a valuable food in today’s market.

Together, the festival and the association’s outreach underline the cultural and dietary significance of chestnuts across Spain, linking regional heritage with contemporary food trends.