Castanea

About

Castanea -Espace découverte de la châtaigne d'Ardèche is located in the commune of Joyeuse in the department of l'Ardèche, in the Rhône-Alpes region. The site is located in the heart of the medieval town of Joyeuse, in the College of Oratorians, a building protected by historical monuments.

Museum of Châtaigneraie in Castanea: At the origin of this museum, a passionate woman, Mrs Coste, then antique dealer at Joyeuse, created in her shop a small museum with tools dedicated to the civilization of the chestnut tree. The municipality of Joyeuse acquired this collection in 1981 with the help of the General Council. In 1987, Ms. Évelyne Zminka, then president of the Free Time Association, highlighted this heritage for a temporary exhibition. In view of the success of this exhibition, thanks to generous donors and especially thanks to the initiator, this exhibition quickly turned into a museum. The community of communes of the Pays Beaume-Drobie has operated the museum since the 1990s. Between 2017 and 2018 the Châtaigneraie Museum was completely renovated, the exhibition was redesigned. This completely redesigned site dedicated to the Châtaigne en Ardèche has changed its name, it is now called Castanea...