Mangalica Festival Budapest
3rd-5th February 2012

The Mangalica Festival between 3. - 5. February 2012 launches the series of many gastro festivals held yearly in Budapest. The festival moves to a new venue from previous years' place at Vajdahunyad Castle in City Park to Szabadság tér near the Parliament.

Video Mangalica Festival Budapest 2012

Photos About the Mangalica Festival

Basic Information About the Mangalica Festival Budapest

Location: Szabadság tér (Parliament Neighbourhood), district V., M2 metro Kossuth tér station, M3 metro Arany János utca station , tram 2 Kossuth L. tér stop (5-minute walk from each station)

Date: 3rd February - 5th February 2012
Opening hours:
Admission: free, tasting of mangalica products at the exhibitor stalls is usually free.
Event Website: Mangalica Festival

Map for the Managalica Festival Venue, Budapest, Szabadság tér

Mangalica Festival - Programs, Exhibitors

The first mangalica festival took place in 2007 to promote mangalica products and to provide a platform for raisers of the breed. Since then the festival has become one of the largest gastro events in Budapest that both locals and tourists look forward to each February.

Besides the more than 100 exhibitors (mangalica meat producers, artisan cheese, honey, chocolate, bread, wine and pálinka makers) the festival offers a wide range of programs for all members of the family.

There'll be a cooking competition on Saturday, 4th February where meals have to be made from mangalica products.

Folk music and children's programs during the day, light music concerts in the evening starting at 19.00.

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About the Mangalica Pig Breed

Mangalica (also known as curly-hair hog) is a unique pig breed indigenous to Hungary. Historic records first mention it in 1791. The breed is a result of the cross-breeding of Bánsági Sumádia and Szalonati, Bakonyi pigs.

Due to its undemanding nature, quick reproduction and fast fattening, Mangalica became very popular among Hungarian farmers in the 19th century. Mangalica piglets are striped, while the grown pig has curly dark, red or blonde fur.

Mangalica is a "lard-type" pig with flavorful, marbled meat. Its meat and the products made from it (sausages, salami, ham, bacon) are not only tastier but also slightly healthier than that of ordinary pigs. It's because mangalica fat has better ratio of unsaturated and saturated fatty acids (unsaturated fatty acids are healthier, they don't increase the level of blood cholesterol). Mangalica fat (and meat) tastes richer. The fat also melts at lower temperature due to the unsaturated fatty acid content.

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Since the 1950ies mangalica had lost its popularity because it'd been replaced by "meat-type" swine breeds producing more lean meat.

In recent years the fame of mangalica and mangalica products has been resurrected thanks to events like the Mangalica Festival in Budapest. This unique Hungarian pork meat is sought after even in the US.

Visit the event over the first weekend of February 2012 to taste and buy some mangalica and enjoy the programs in the heart of Budapest!

Photos - Mangalica Festival Budapest

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