Thousands flock to Vianden for the annual Nut Market

Vianden, famous for its castle, its steep little streets and, above all, its nuts, which take centre stage every October. At the traditional Nut Market, everything revolves around the small, hard-shelled wonder with its intense flavour.

"People are incredibly creative when it comes to finding ways to include nuts in everything", said Vianden mayor François Weyrich, adding that: "On this day, Vianden is absolutely packed. It's the only day of the year when so many people are in town."

Since 1935, Vianden has celebrated its beloved nut with music, a bustling market, and countless nut-based delicacies from brandy and liqueurs to oil, cakes, and even sausages. Counting calories is strictly off-limits at the Nut Market.

Each year, around 12,000 visitors make their way to the little town on the River Our. Here, the nut is more than just a snack; it is part of local culture and tradition. At the beginning of the last century, around 20% of all nuts sold in Luxembourg came from Vianden. This year's harvest has been particularly good, according to Mallo, who has been helping at a market stall for years:

"This year we've had an incredible amount of nuts, something we hadn't seen in a long time. In previous years we even had to go to Grenoble to buy them. This year, we've got them in great quantities."

The nut may not be sacred, but it is certainly healthy, as even early medicine recognised.

One stallholder explained that locals still swear by the traditional nut brandy: "People here prefer a good nut schnapps to any kind of chemical pill when they have a stomach ache. Everyone knows it's a remedy that's been passed down from generation to generation."

Whether cracked, sipped or simply celebrated, the nut brings Vianden together year after year. And anyone who visits once knows it is worth going a little nuts for.

© Ketty a Rom Hankes

© Tim Morizet