Discover Diges: Hiking, History and the Chestnut Festival

If you are looking for a hotel in Diges, the purpose of your trip can help guide your plans: the village combines a designated hiking trail with built heritage and an annual chestnut festival. Hiking and attending the festival involve different planning priorities; the historic Château and the Church of Saint-Martin add specific architectural and interior details to explore. This means you can decide before choosing your travel dates whether you would rather spend your time on a longer hike, the Fête de la châtaigne or the village’s history.

Hiking the Sentier des puits d’ocre

The Sentier des puits d’ocre à Diges starts and ends in Diges. The moderately difficult route is 12.92 kilometres long and takes an estimated 4 hours and 20 minutes. This gives you a clear idea of how much time to allow for the hike. The trail passes an old open-cast ochre pit, as well as a former ochre factory and its drying sheds. The pit, factory and shed offer different points of interest related to ochre along the route. Check trail and access conditions before setting out, as they may change.

The fortress and church as historic landmarks

The fortress of Diges was built in the 12th century as a quadrangular structure with four round towers; three of these towers remain. The Château de Diges has been listed in the register of historic monuments since 1931. Historically, the Château served as a residence for monks or the abbot when they came to Diges, mainly to collect tithes. The quadrangular layout and round towers describe the structure’s form; the three surviving towers contrast with the original four.

The Church of Saint-Martin was probably originally a castle chapel incorporated into a fortified area, remnants of which are still visible. Inside are a stone Christ dating from the 14th century and a baptismal font from the time of Louis XIII. The church brings together a presumed former function and visible remains of the fortified area, alongside two dated furnishings. Visitors interested in architectural and local history will find different points of reference here: a likely early function, surviving structural remains and furnishings from different periods.

The Fête de la châtaigne in October

The Fête de la châtaigne in Diges takes place every year on the third Saturday in October, so the exact calendar date changes from year to year. If you would like to plan your stay around the festival, check the date and programme for that year’s event. Chestnuts are roasted and sampled on site at the Fête. The programme includes exhibitions featuring crafts, old agricultural machinery and poultry, as well as an art exhibition in the Church of Saint-Martin. Individual exhibitions may vary from one year to another.

A market featuring local producers complements the festival. Products on offer include chestnuts, homemade black pudding, seasonal vegetables, jams, walnut wine, chestnut flour and cheeses from short supply chains. The festival market therefore includes both chestnut products and other foods and produce.

For planning purposes, the hike answers a different question from the festival: the route’s length and estimated duration determine how much time to allow, while the Fête takes place on a recurring October date that varies from year to year.

Discover more destinations: Arthonnay, Merry-La-Vallée, Domecy-Sur-Cure, Andryes, Crain, Champcevrais, Villiers-les-Hauts, Lézinnes.

For the wider travel overview: Yonne.