Staying in our home in Hérépian has given us plenty of time to explore the smaller villages of the Haut-Languedoc, particularly when there’s a local market, festival or event happening.
One autumn outing took us to nearby Saint-Gervais-sur-Mare for its traditional chestnut festival, known locally as La Castagnade.
This isn’t a large commercial festival. It’s a local celebration centred around chestnuts, food, wine and the community coming together. For us, it was also a chance to discover more of Saint-Gervais-sur-Mare and its history.
Saint-Gervais-sur-Mare
Saint-Gervais-sur-Mare is a historic village in the Hérault department of southern France, surrounded by the hills and forests of the Haut-Languedoc.
The village has a long history shaped by its position on a route through the mountains, along with agriculture, trade and the surrounding chestnut forests.
Chestnuts were once an important source of food throughout this region, but the trees provided more than that. Chestnut timber supported local livelihoods, including the production of wooden hoops for barrels — a trade that became particularly important as commerce through the port of Sète developed.
Today, the old stone buildings, narrow streets, churches and bridges give Saint-Gervais-sur-Mare plenty of character. It’s worth allowing time to explore the village rather than coming only for the festival.
When Is the Saint-Gervais-sur-Mare Chestnut Festival?
La Castagnade is traditionally held on the last Sunday in October, although the date and program can change from year to year.
If you’re planning your trip around the festival, check the latest date and program with the Saint-Gervais-sur-Mare commune or local tourism office before travelling.
What to Expect at La Castagnade
La Castagnade is a lively local festival where the Saint-Gervais-sur-Mare community comes together, joined by people from villages throughout the surrounding Haut-Languedoc.
Place du Quai fills with market stalls, communal tables, music and entertainment, while the smell of chestnuts roasting adds to the autumn atmosphere.
Food is a big part of the day. You’ll find local produce, cheeses, charcuterie and bread alongside hot meals prepared for the festival. When we visited, there was paella, grilled sausages and roasted quail with potatoes and gravy, all easily accompanied by a glass of local Languedoc wine.
What we remember most was how welcoming everyone was. Our French was limited and we clearly stood out as visitors, but that didn’t matter. Despite the language barrier, people included us in the celebrations and made us feel very welcome.
No one seemed in a hurry. People settled in for lunch, caught up with friends and enjoyed the celebrations around them. That warm community atmosphere is one of the reasons we still remember La Castagnade so fondly.
Camino and Walking Trails Around Saint-Gervais-sur-Mare
Saint-Gervais-sur-Mare has welcomed travellers for centuries. The village lies on the Arles Way (Via Tolosana), one of the historic French pilgrimage routes towards Santiago de Compostela.
That walking tradition continues today, with trails leading from the village into the hills and forests of the Haut-Languedoc.
If you’re visiting for La Castagnade, allow some extra time to explore on foot. Autumn is particularly lovely, with cooler walking temperatures, changing colours and the surrounding chestnut forests fitting perfectly with the celebrations happening back in the village.
What Else to See in Saint-Gervais-sur-Mare
Allow some time to wander around Saint-Gervais-sur-Mare while you’re here for the festival. The village has a surprising amount of history tucked into its old streets.
The Notre-Dame bridge, dating from the medieval period, crosses the River Mare and is one of the village’s historic landmarks. Nearby, the Notre-Dame-de-Lorette chapel is another reminder of Saint-Gervais-sur-Mare’s long religious and pilgrimage history.
You’ll also find old stone houses, narrow lanes and traces of the village’s past as you walk through the historic centre.
Getting to Saint-Gervais-sur-Mare
Saint-Gervais-sur-Mare is in the Haut-Languedoc, around 17 km west of Bédarieux. We visit from our home in Hérépian, making it an easy drive through the surrounding countryside.
Bédarieux is the largest nearby town, while Hérépian and the spa town of Lamalou-les-Bains are also convenient bases. If you’re staying closer to the Mediterranean coast, Béziers is around 45 km away and is the nearest major centre.
Having a car is the easiest way to explore this part of the Haut-Languedoc, particularly if you want to combine the festival with nearby villages and countryside.
Where to Stay for the Festival
If you’re coming specifically for La Castagnade, we’d recommend staying in Saint-Gervais-sur-Mare if you can.
Part of the pleasure of these village festivals is settling in for a long lunch, trying the local wines and staying on as the celebrations continue. Having accommodation within walking distance means there’s no need to think about driving afterwards.
Saint-Gervais-sur-Mare has a small selection of guesthouses and accommodation, so we’d book early for festival weekend.
If you’d prefer more choice, nearby Beziers, Hérépian, Lamalou-les-Bains and Bédarieux also make good bases for exploring the wider Haut-Languedoc.
Is the Saint-Gervais-sur-Mare Chestnut Festival Worth Visiting?
For us, absolutely. La Castagnade is the kind of local festival we enjoy most in southern France — good food and wine, a beautiful historic village and a community genuinely enjoying the day together.
If you’re in the Haut-Languedoc on the last Sunday in October, it’s worth checking whether the festival is taking place. Arrive hungry, allow time to explore Saint-Gervais-sur-Mare and, if you plan on enjoying the local wines, consider staying overnight.
More to Explore in the Haut-Languedoc
Saint-Gervais-sur-Mare is just one of many places we’ve discovered while spending time at our home in Hérépian.
If you’re exploring this part of southern France, you may also enjoy:
- Passa Païs Greenway – our first-hand guide to cycling, e-biking and walking the old railway route through the Haut-Languedoc.
- Hérépian Bell Museum – the story behind the village’s centuries-old bell-making tradition.
- Hérépian Travel Guide – where to eat, stay and what to see around our base in the Haut-Languedoc.
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