Where to go in autumn: Gastronomic trips to Europe
What do we all do on trips? We exhale, walk a lot, look around, sleep a lot and eat a lot. The next three months are freedom for those to whom all these points are important: tourist flows return to the cities and offices, the velvet season is still on the coasts, and figs, pumpkins and something not grown up in European gardens. We talk about the ten best destinations where you can have a great time, try local products and dishes and bring "banned" to your friends - in the era of economic sanctions, gastronomic tourism becomes especially relevant.
In Alba for white truffles
Italy
The small town of Alba, located in the Italian region of Piedmont, from October to November turns into a place of pilgrimage for gourmets from all over the world: here begins the season of white truffle, the most unusual and expensive mushroom in the world. The peak falls on October 11-16 - it is then that the corresponding festival takes place here with tastings, tours to find truffles, an auction, as well as various performances, exhibitions, film screenings and performances. Despite the fact that prices for 100 g of truffles at auction start from a few hundred dollars, you can taste a dish with unusual mushrooms during almost any restaurant in the city - a portion of real Italian pasta with truffle and a glass of wine will cost around 10 euros.
You can stop in Alba, depending on the budget, both in the city itself and in its surroundings. For example, in the house of young winemakers or on one of the farms, surrounded by ancient castles, plantations of fruit trees and vineyards. In the city, ideally designed for walks, you can explore the medieval architecture: there are still buildings, cathedrals, towers and Gothic churches, built several centuries ago. For souvenirs with the participation of the same truffles and other local delicacies, we recommend you to look at the Tartufi Morra shop on Pertinas Square, which has been working here since 1930. By the way, here you can also order a tour of truffles search with a real hunter and his dog. And to get acquainted with other products that this region is also famous for: cheeses, local wines, honey and peaches - is possible on the Saturday market in the main square. The main thing is not to hurry anywhere and enjoy the natural local food from the heart, as the slow food movement that originated in this region encourages.
In Parma for Parmesan
Italy
Parma is the heart of the Italian "valley of taste" and the birthplace of the well-known and now banned Parmesan cheese with a rich gastronomic and architectural background. In addition to the obvious churches, squares and cathedrals, Parma has several food museums, including the Tomato Museum, the Pasta Museum and the Parmesan Museum. You can reach them from Parma by bus in less than one hour. The Parmesan Museum is located on the territory of a private cheese factory and occupies two floors, on which various artifacts are presented, from sketches to cutting knives, one way or another connected with this cheese. If you're lucky, you can lift the veil of secrecy of the production of this sensational cheese, because only that cheese made in this region according to the ancient recipe of the Benedictine monks, which has not changed for several centuries, is considered a real Parmigian-Reggiano. Well, anyone who can taste the best samples from the cheese dressers can.
If you want not only to try, but also to learn how to cook traditional Italian dishes, welcome to the Barilla culinary academy, which has long been known outside Italy. In addition to the culinary school, there are short courses and even one-day classes devoted to one topic: sauces, pasta, snacks, risottos, desserts, and so on. The price for one class starts at € 300. Well, when you want to relax from gastronomic impressions, go to the Botanical Garden, founded in Parma in 1770. You can stay at the Palazzo Dalla Rosa Prati hotel overlooking the Cathedral Square (€ 100-200 per night), in a room in a villa or in a budget in the center for € 20.
In Baenu for olives
Spain
The Oliva Festival, which takes place every fall since 1998 in Andalusia, is considered the biggest festival in Europe dedicated to olives and olive oil. It marks the autumn harvest and once again emphasizes the role of Baena as the Spanish capital of olives, olives and the main producer of olive oil in the world. From 9 to 11 November, not only gourmets, but world-famous chefs will come here. In the intervals between the search for the best olives, olives and oils, they give various workshops on cooking with local products and thematic lectures. The best cafes and restaurants of Baena do not stand aside - during the festival three dishes without fail appear in the menu, including olives or olive oil. Any visitor to the festival can take part in the annual Ruta de la Tapa competition: the one who tastes all the festival dishes in all the restaurants in the evening, will receive a prize of 50 liters of the best olive oil and lunch for two. The festival is also educational in nature: you can not only taste the olives, but also learn how they are processed and grown, squeeze the oil out of them yourself and learn how to distinguish one variety from another by taking part in a blind tasting.
As in any other city that claims to be the gastronomic capital, in Baena, in addition to traditional museums, there is the Museo del Olivar - the museum of olives in the very center of the city. In addition, outside the city there are picturesque olive groves, wheat fields, many hiking trails and natural parks. You can study them on your own or in a traditional way for this region - riding a donkey or a horse. If you want a bit of exotic, we advise you not to stay in the city center, but to rent a room in a house located in a village on a hill near Baena.
In Saveter for cider and chestnuts
France
In October, the smell of roasted chestnuts envelops the whole of France and the regions - the harvest of the autumn crop is accompanied by various events dedicated to this nutty nut, which used to replace the French with both potatoes and bread. With the festival of chestnut and cider, the French complete the "Week of Tastes", which begins with the holiday of shukrut, spices and fish, and celebrate the coming of autumn. In France, they grow a certain kind of chestnuts, the Kugurdons, it is they who become the main gastronomic fetish of autumn and the main cause of the celebration. In the small town of Savevere, the festival of chestnuts and cider takes place as usual in the central square of the city Place aux Arcades - this year from September 28 to October 10. Around the huge chestnut trees, which were planted here more than a century ago, braziers for nuts are installed, and cider producers treat the best samples of the drink from the new crop - usually at the festival you can try several dozen different varieties. Unusual chestnut dishes appear in all restaurants and cafes: be it the first, second, or dessert, they always include the main nut of the fall. Eating chestnuts accompanied by mass celebrations, fun performances and competitions, as a rule, until the morning.
Breathing in the fresh air of the province, be sure to get out to Toulouse on weekends - to stroll through the historic center of the Pink City, dotted with narrow streets and boulevards, and visit the famous flea markets at the Basilica of Saint-Sernin, opens early on Sunday morning and on the “Big Circle” "(Grand Rond, running every first weekend of the month). Organic food lovers will appreciate the farmers market around St. Basil's Basilica. Aubin, which is open every Sunday morning. Here you can buy local specialties: homemade wine and cheese, fresh seasonal vegetables and fruits. Escape from the gastronomic sentiments can be in the area of Rue Gambetta and the Place de la Bourse, where the "artistic quarter" of the city. Here you will find vintage shops, shops with antiques, textiles and art objects. In walking distance - the Botanical Garden and the Neo-Mauritanian Pavilion of the Georges Labi Museum with a collection of Egyptian and Oriental art. There are quite a few options for accommodation in Toulouse - from luxury hotels and budget guest houses to camping, the main thing is to decide on the desired budget.
Roquebrune-sur-Argens
France
In early October, all honey lovers and hunters of rare varieties flock to the small southern town of Roquebrune-sur-Argens, the honey capital of Provence. It is here, in Germain Olle Square, you can find honey for every taste and color: lavender, lemon, pine, fig, chestnut, orange, floral, chocolate and rosemary, and traditional, lime. During the Fête du Miel festival, which will be held on the first weekend of October, the best French beekeepers will not only treat visitors to honey, but also tell and show how it is mined and stored, and the best chefs in Provence will teach visitors to cook various dishes and desserts with honey. . If you are going to make purchases at the festival, be sure to come with your packaging - for this, sellers will make a small discount. In addition to honey at the festival you can get acquainted with the best varieties of local olive oil, wine, chocolate and honey cookies.
Surrounded by the Alps and the Mediterranean, Provence is an ideal place for gastronomic and active tourism - in between exploring the local wineries, the Gérard Courreau chocolate factory and the Robert Bedot cheese factory, you can swim in the sea and climb the mountains. Housing choose, depending on the desired type: in close proximity to the sea or in an unusual tree house.
In Bozho for young wine
France
The feast of young wine Beaujolais Nouveau, which is now celebrated in almost every country around the world, originates from a small region north of Lyon. It was here, in the settlement of Bozho, that from the middle of the 19th century, the Beaujolais Nouveau, the feast of young wine made from local Game grapes, is celebrated annually. Sarmantel (the official name of the holiday) will begin on November 19 at about five o'clock in the evening on the main square: local winemakers organize contests and treat all visitors with wine. To the music, foreign delegations arrive, and the holiday moves under huge tents with covered tables, where all guests are invited who have time to buy a ticket. The celebration is gaining momentum, and at midnight, with lighted torches in their hands, the winemakers of Bozho come out to the main square to start the holiday: they knock out the gags from the barrels with young wine - and from that moment begins the sale of Beaujolais Nouveau in France and around the world . The rest of the night is devoted to dancing and fun, which are accompanied by tasting the best varieties of the new crop.
After Sarmantel, you can continue your acquaintance with young wines in one of the Beaujolais bistros - cafes and restaurants, where you will be offered the real and high-quality Beaujolais Nouveau. On the official website of the region you can find a route to your liking and even download an application that will help you get acquainted with the local winemaking culture: visit local cooperatives, private wineries, tastings and even work as a grape picker. For lovers of more active leisure - horseback riding, trips to the farm, hiking and cooking courses. For those who like to stay in unusual places, we recommend paying attention to the Unusual Accomodation list, where you will be offered to spend the night in a trailer, in a tree house or in a tent at the foot of the picturesque Marchampt village.
In Eisenstadt for sweet wines
Austria Festival of Austrian wines The Best of Sweets
Eisenstadt, the capital of the federal state of Burgenland, is considered the birthplace of the unique Austrian sweet wines, the taste qualities of which are determined by the characteristic climate of the region. In order to try beerenausleze (sweet wines from selected grapes of the fallen berries, affected by noble mold and having century-old production traditions), tourists from all over Europe come to Eisenstadt. According to conservative estimates, during the festival (this year it is from 11 to 14 October) more than three thousand liters of wine are drunk - not only Austrian, because for several years the organizers have invited famous wine-makers from different parts of the world to the festival. During the three days of the festival, you can take a tour of local wine cellars and museums (nearby Esterházy Castle is the largest wine museum in Austria), participate in wine tastings and presentations of local organic products. In addition, the festival invites the best chefs who prepare traditional Viennese cuisine from local products.
All the main sights of Eisenstadt are located in the historic center of the city and in the area of Domplatz Square - you can easily get around them in one day. The rest of the time you can devote to exploring the surrounding area: here is the above-mentioned palace and Esterhazy Nature Park, historical mansions, the Austrian Jewish Museum and vineyards. And if you really want to merge with nature, Lake Neusiedler See is located 15 kilometers from the city, around which is located the National Park Neusiedlersee-Zeevinkel, where you can watch the birds, of which there are about 300 species. If you want a homely atmosphere and comfort, you should rent a room in one of the houses, located near the main attractions of the city.
In Ericeira for green wine
Portugal
Ericeira is an old fishing village in Portugal, where you can go for cheese, seafood, fresh pastries and, of course, young green wine, which is produced only in this region. True, this wine has no relation to green color - most often it is transparent and colorless, sometimes with a tinge of red, pink or yellow, but always fresh, light, young, immature and slightly aerated. This wine is not only drunk, but also used for the production of wine alcohol, vinegar, as well as a strong Portuguese drink Bagaseira. It is better to drink it chilled in order to feel the full depth and beauty of the aroma. In the autumn, when the season of young green wine begins, you can try this drink in any institution of Ericeira - from expensive restaurants to local eateries.
In the old part of Ericeira, it is nice to just walk along snow-white streets, looking at the main market for the freshest pastries, cheese, vegetables, fruits or greens (real Portuguese grandmothers are traded here and only grown on their own beds). Visit the weekend the flea market on the main square and have a drink at the bar of the famous Portuguese port. You can climb the mountains to get acquainted with the traditions of local winemaking (the Douro Valley deserves special attention) or go to the famous surfer spot Ribeira d'Ilhas with a tent - due to the fact that the inhabitants of Ericeira wake up rather late , there are almost no people on the beach until dinner. The most budget type of accommodation in Ericeira is a tent camp, and if you want comfort, it is better to rent a room with a beautiful view of the vast ocean.
In Lucerne for cheeses
Switzerland
The Swiss city of Lucerne, on the banks of the river of the same name, every autumn receives crowds of gourmets who come here to the biggest fair of Swiss cheese, Lucerne Cheese Festival. On October 18, here, on the central square, specially blocked for this event, the honored cheese-makers of the region will gather to present the best samples of alpine cheese - a total of more than 200 different varieties. All day long, to the sounds of the Alpine forge, tastings are held on the square, lectures on the difference between Alpine and mountain cheeses, a competition for the biggest yield from an artificial cow and a demonstration of some subtleties of production.
In parallel with the cheese festival on the lake shore, from the Bahnhofplatz square to the Europaplatz square, the traditional Lucerne Autumn Fair will stretch, where the best producers will gather and present both local delicacies and folk art goods. At least a day should be paid to a walk through the old town, and also to visit the art museum, where many cultural events take place. Well, if gastronomic experiences are still not enough, go to the neighboring town of Engelberg or Gruyere to get acquainted with the local traditions of cheese making (just do not forget to sign up for an excursion in advance). You can take a walk on the picturesque lake or a small ascent to the snow-capped peaks of the Alps: on foot, on a three-speed cable car or on the Alpnachstad railway.
To Turin for farm products
Italy
If you want to make a round-the-world gastronomic journey without leaving the limits of sunny Italy, head north to Turin, where the Slow Food Festival, Salone del Gusto, one of the largest gastronomic festivals in the world under the auspices of the slow food movement, will take place on October 23-27. The focus is on ecologically clean products, preserving traditions, combating fast food and true enjoyment of quality products. At the festival, as usual, they will build two huge pavilions in which all regions and provinces of Italy will be represented, as well as two more: one dedicated to traditional cuisine from different countries, and a separate one - only street food. Тема фестиваля в этом году - продовольственное биоразнообразие и семейные фермерские хозяйства. В программе обязательные дегустации локальной продукции и вин, кулинарные мастер-классы и конференции, а также обеды от звездных шефов, билеты на которые лучше покупать задолго до начала мероприятия (они проводятся в старинных особняках и замках в окрестностях Турина и стоят около 40 евро).Within the framework of the festival this year, for the first time, a culinary school will begin to work, in which, as the organizers write, they will teach to cook not only from local products, but also from their leftovers. A separate item of the program is Mixology workshops, where everyone can learn how to mix favorite drinks like a professional bartender.
The rest of the time, you can just walk along the main streets of one of the capitals of Art Nouveau, look at the oldest cafe in Italy "Bicherin" and try the eponymous dessert, get acquainted with the first Italian films in the cinema museum, lying on comfortable chairs (the screen is installed under the ceiling) and try the real Italian gelato. Be sure to try the local chocolate and hazelnut paste - without them, leaving Turin is simply impossible. And if you want to spend time with health benefits, go to the quiet place of Acqui Terme (Warm Waters), located between Turin and Genoa - rumors of a local mud resort and its rejuvenating properties have long spread outside of Italy. You can stay in one of the hotels at special prices for guests of the festival or rent an apartment with a terrace not far from the city center.
Photo: Wikipedia Images, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 via Flickr