Collobrières: Chestnut Festival and village — to be confirmed
Polyglot Club is preparing an autumn outing to Collobrières on Sunday, October 17, 2027, with coach departures from Aix-en-Provence and Marseille. Set in the Massif des Maures, the village provides the setting for a day devoted to the Chestnut Festival, local produce and exploring on foot, subject to confirmation of the festival date.
The festival market is an opportunity to discover the different ways chestnuts are prepared and presented by participating producers. Depending on the exhibitors, you may find roasted chestnuts, chestnut cream and other specialities. Take time to browse, talk to stallholders and choose any purchases that appeal to you.
Beyond the stalls, Collobrières offers cobbled lanes, small squares and views of its village heritage. You can alternate the busy festival atmosphere with a quieter stroll and a lunch break at your own expense. The day is designed around discovering the village rather than following a demanding hiking route.
Our French- and English-speaking Polyglot Club host accompanies the group and encourages conversation and language practice. The detailed entertainment, any admission charges and group access will be checked for 2027. The date remains provisional and no booking or payment is possible yet.
Photos from a previous Polyglot Club excursion in Provence:
DATE AND FESTIVAL TO BE CONFIRMED
Sunday 17 October 2027 is provisional, pending the official calendar. We will confirm the trip once the festival and group access arrangements for this date are established. Booking is not open.
Sales are planned to open on October 1, 2026, subject to the required confirmations. Reservations are currently closed.
BUY YOUR TICKET ONLINE (secure payment):
To reserve your place, you must make an advance reservation by paying part of the total online. The remaining amount (€30) must be paid at departure (cash or cheque).
Read the Terms and Conditions of Sale.
PROGRAMME – COLLOBRIÈRES AND CHESTNUT FESTIVAL (PROVISIONAL)
1. Aix, then Marseille
Planned departures: Aix at 07:15, then Marseille at 08:00. Please arrive at your meeting point 15 minutes early. Following a break en route, we aim to arrive around 10:15. Coach routing and village access will follow festival traffic instructions.
2. Festival market and independent lunch
Browse the stalls and discover chestnut-based products offered by participating exhibitors. Choose your own purchases and lunch. No meal, product package, private tasting or workshop is included in the trip price.
A day of autumn flavours
The market is the thread running through the visit: browse the stalls, talk to participating producers and discover different ways of preparing chestnuts. Depending on the exhibitors, stalls may offer roasted chestnuts, chestnut cream and other specialities. Purchases and lunch remain entirely your choice.
The celebration brings together local produce, artisans and entertainment. Previous editions assigned different themes to the festival Sundays, so we do not promise a particular folklore parade or demonstration for 17 October 2027. We will identify the activities actually announced and accessible during our visit. Tourist-office information about the festival.
Independent lunch break
Choose a restaurant or bring your picnic. Meals and drinks are at your own expense. Enjoy conversation with fellow participants during the break, while leaving enough time to reach the next meeting point.
3. Explore Collobrières
Alongside the festival, take time to enjoy the village squares and lanes. Views of the local heritage and surroundings provide opportunities to pause along the way. Crowds may restrict access to some areas; the Saint-Pons ruins illustrated below are not a reserved interior visit.
Combine the festivities with a village stroll
Step away from the stalls for a while to explore the cobbled lanes and small squares. The village is discovered on foot, with slopes and uneven surfaces: choose a pace that suits you and leave time for a break and the walk back to the meeting point.
The Maures hills and the local chestnut tradition give this excursion its autumn character. This is not a hike through a working orchard: no private chestnut-grove access, harvesting or factory visit has been reserved. Free time lets you enjoy the village without adding a paid activity to the programme. Discover Collobrières.
4. Meeting point and return
We plan to regroup around 16:30 at the point specified by the coordinator. Estimated return: Marseille around 18:30, then Aix around 19:15, traffic permitting. Drop-off may be outside the centre, so allow for walking and leave enough time to reach the coach.
FESTIVAL ACCESS AND BOOKINGS
2027 access arrangements, including whether access is free or charged and any price, remain to be confirmed with Collobrières town hall. No specific paid activity on site is included in our trip price. Any paid option, its price and booking procedure will be explained before sales open. Our coach parking and group access will be arranged collectively.
WHAT TO BRING
Wear comfortable shoes for sloping streets and clothes suitable for October weather, and bring water. Purchases and meals are personal expenses; bring payment methods accepted at market stalls. No confectionery factory or wine cellar visit is guaranteed.
TRIP PAYMENT
When booking opens: pay the deposit online, then the remaining €30 on the coach. No payment is possible yet.
PRICING
Advance booking is required, with part of the total paid online.
SUPER PROMO : 39.00 €
from October 1 to November 30, 2026 inclusive.A deposit of €9.00 is required when booking; the remaining €30 is payable on the coach.
PROMO : 45.00 €
from December 1, 2026 to October 14, 2027 inclusive.A deposit of €15.00 is required when booking; the remaining €30 is payable on the coach.
Standard : 49.00 €
from October 15, 2027 until booking closes.A deposit of €19.00 is required when booking; the remaining €30 is payable on the coach.
INCLUDED / NOT INCLUDED
Coach transport, French-English coordination and language exchanges included. Meals, drinks, personal purchases and any paid activity on site are not included.
Participants
All ages, all nationalities, and all language levels are welcome.
You can come alone, as a couple, with your family, or with friends.
Aix-en-Provence meeting point
Avenue Henri-Mouret, Quai 28, two minutes on foot from the bus station, on the Casino Partouche side of the avenue. Groups are now picked up at Quai 28, not Quai 25.
See the exact location on the map.
Marseille meeting point
Next to Marseille Saint-Charles station, by the entrance to the Faculty of Sciences Saint-Charles on Place Victor-Hugo, at the “Faculté Saint-Charles” bus stop.
See the exact location on the map.
TRANSPORT
Air-conditioned coach (capacity to be confirmed with Sumian).
INFORMATION
SMS / WhatsApp (Vincent): +33 6 60 25 62 66
For more details about all our excursions in Provence, join our WhatsApp group "Excursions in Provence":
https://polyglotclub.com/ExcursionsProvence
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Bring comfortable shoes, water, sun or rain protection and clothing suitable for the season. Return times are approximate and depend on traffic and access. For coastal trips, swimming and access to natural areas depend on weather and local restrictions.
Minors must be accompanied by parents, legal representatives or guardians; a waiver cannot replace supervision. An unaccompanied minor cannot participate and will be refunded. Discuss accessibility needs in advance so safe participation can be assessed; a support person is recommended where needed.
Arrive punctually: late arrival or failure to pay the balance may prevent participation. Sales and cancellation terms will be provided before booking opens; no insurance is included or promised at this stage. Contact Vincent, +33 6 60 25 62 66 (SMS/WhatsApp). Join the Provence excursions information group.
Photo : Net-breuer — Creative Commons ; illustration du lieu, redimensionnement / location illustration, resized.
Photo : Wolf Meusel — domaine public / public domain ; illustration du lieu, redimensionnement / location illustration, resized.
ABOUT POLYGLOT CLUB
Polyglot Club is an association dedicated to language exchange with over 1M members and organizing language events in more than 300 cities worldwide.
- Discover all Polyglot Club media appearances.
- See pictures from a previous daytrip.
- Come and chat with us during our free events in Aix or Marseille.