If for some people gathering and baking chestnuts in the family circle is already a true autumn ritual, other prefer to buy the hot treat from street stalls. The lines in the centre of Ljubljana are long, and the overburdened sellers are trying hard to satisfy every visitor.

Expensive, but cheaper than years ago
The stalls opened on 5 October this year and will remain in operation until 31 January. The city of Ljubljana has rented out eight locations this year to chestnut sellers.

For a stall on Prešeren Square, rent amounts to 9,000 euros, and for the cheapest locations tenants must pay 500 euros. Rents are lower than a few years ago, when they reached up to 13,000 euros.

Small portion costs two and a half euros
If chestnut sellers on the Prešeren Square are constantly working to serve the big crowd, having little time to talk with visitors, those who sell elsewhere are somewhat more concerned. "The rent at the Ajdovščina bus station is smaller, but we also sell much less," a salesman by the main road through the centre explains. The municipal fee for this location is 1,500 euros.

Sellers have four months to earn for their rent. The small portion of chestnut costs two and a half euros, and the price for a slightly larger one is around four euros. The small portion on average contains ten chestnuts, passers-by tell us.