Barrosã Cattle Prize Fair in Montalegre
The traditional Feira do Prémio returns to Montalegre on the second Thursday of August, celebrating the iconic Barrosã cattle breed. A day of festivities at the fairground, featuring a livestock competition, rural traditions and the famous local gastronomy.
The Feira do Prémio do Gado (Cattle Prize Fair) is one of the most emblematic events on Montalegre's annual calendar, traditionally held on the second Thursday of August — falling on 13 August in 2026. This time-honoured fair is dedicated to the Barrosã cattle breed, one of the greatest treasures of the Barroso region, a territory classified by the FAO as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System.
Throughout the day, the Campo da Feira fairground next to Montalegre's Exhibition Park fills with breeders from across the municipality and beyond, presenting their finest animals in competition. The Barrosã breed livestock contest, organised by the Municipality of Montalegre, awards prizes to the highest-quality animals and offers a unique chance to admire specimens of rare beauty, with their characteristic lyre-shaped horns and the imposing presence that made this breed famous.
The fair traditionally coincides with the climax of the chegas de bois championship, an ancestral Barroso practice in which two Barrosã oxen test their strength in a contest of dominance — a tradition deeply rooted in local pastoral culture that draws thousands of spectators and enthusiasts.
For visitors, this is an authentic immersion in Barroso culture: beyond the cattle, there are stalls selling regional products, Montalegre's famous smoked meats, rye bread, Barroso honey and local crafts. It is also an excellent occasion to taste PDO Barrosã beef, considered among the finest beef in the world and served in the town's restaurants.
The fair takes place amid the festive atmosphere of August in Montalegre, when the town welcomes thousands of returning emigrants and visitors for the municipal festivities in honour of Senhor da Piedade. Entry is free and the event runs outdoors throughout the day.
Crowned by its 13th-century medieval castle and serving as a gateway to Peneda-Gerês National Park, Montalegre also offers stunning landscapes, preserved villages such as Pitões das Júnias, and genuine Trás-os-Montes hospitality. The Feira do Prémio is the perfect excuse to discover this unique corner of northern Portugal.
