The main characteristics of French chestnut orchards, chestnut stands, and the related nut and wood chains are presented. The links between chestnut groves and their associated farming activities, and the chestnut’s contribution to the sustainable management of rural areas are presented. The subject of dual-purpose management of chestnuts is also discussed. The nut chain is short, dynamic and these days in mutation. It is organised into local comities following regional interests divided between conservation and revitalisation of old orchards in the South East, and an orientation towards modern orchards in the South West. Chestnut wood production is a small chain facing an attractive market. The French resource of chestnut wood is important but under exploited. The demand is today orientated towards larger timber and carpentry wood. Chestnut nut and wood chain are marginal and largely localized. It is not easy to find out reliable and precise information because of it the great diversity of stand and orchard structure (including coppice, set-aside orchards, grazed or non-grazed coppices, and orchards) the opacity of nut production and market organisation (e.g., the importance of direct marketing and the fact that many producers are not farmers). A survey on the management practices of chestnut groves carried out in three nut production zones (Ardèche, Dordogne, and Hautes-Pyrénées) revealed that a great diversity exists in chestnut groves’ structure and management, such as in chestnut orchard contribution to farmers’ activities and farmers’ incomes. This diversity leads to a great yet little known complexity chestnut orchards are almost not considered in agricultural policies and it is difficult for chestnut orchard managers to get subsidies even though their management practices are in complete accordance with agricultural policy’s tendency towards sustainable management, and in this regard : chestnut orchard management looks like organic farming in most of the situations and is favourable to biodiversity ; chestnut orchards can be considered as “eco-orchards” ; in set-aside mountainous areas with important rural exodus, chestnut orchards still provide employment and incomes ; chestnut orchards are directly linked to local tradition and cultural heritage ; in traditional areas, they provide attractiveness to the landscape together with tourism and its related incomes. Chestnut groves are linked to human activities. They are mostly patrimonial in nature, representing a significant part of French farm forestry and, as such, must be regarded as part of the country’s farming activities. They are typically multifunctional because of their numerous outputs, not only fruits and wood, but also other externalities.