This weekend, the northwestern Hungarian town of Tata will host a traditional fishing festival featuring local specialties, cultural events and live music. The traditional seine fishing event at Old Lake (Öreg-tó) attracts visitors from Hungary and abroad.
The highlight of the event takes place on Saturday morning near Kastély Square (Castle Square), where fishermen demonstrate this time-honored craft. Using nothing but their own strength, they gradually pull the enormous seine nets tighter. The freshly caught fish are then sorted in full view of the audience.
Some of the catch goes straight on sale at the traditional fish market, which is set up in the vicinity of the historic castle.
Food lovers will be spoilt for choice. Fish chefs from across the country travel to Tata to prepare regional specialties over open fires, including the famous Hungarian fish soup and fried fish. Alongside these classics, the festival also offers some modern creations. Menus feature dishes such as lángos (traditional Hungarian flat bread) with fish, catfish gyros, crispy catfish chips and bread stuffed with salmon.
There is plenty of entertainment away from the fishing nets, too.
Throughout the weekend, a craft market, live concerts and DJ sets invite visitors to linger and enjoy the atmosphere.
Sunday is dedicated to families. Younger visitors can look forward to creative arts and crafts workshops, dance performances, puppet theatre shows and concerts suitable for children. The full programme is available here.
Old Lake in Tata. Photo: Hungary Today
The Old Lake in Tata is considered one of Hungary’s oldest artificial bodies of water.
The lake was created by damming the Által Stream and, during the Middle Ages, together with the surrounding marshes, formed a natural defensive system for Tata Castle. Under the reigns of King Sigismund of Luxembourg and King Matthias Corvinus, the lake area, rich in fish, developed into a favored royal retreat.
Fishermen at the Old Lake in Tata, 1964. Photo: Fortepan / Szalay Zoltán
The tradition of autumn fishing as a major public festival dates back to the late 1800s, when hauling in the nets became an established social event. After the custom fell into abeyance for a time, it was successfully revived in 2001 and has attracted thousands of spectators year after year ever since.
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Via MTI, Featured image: Hungary Today
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