The almond tree on Havihegy

Most probably, the oldest almond tree in Pécs is on Havihegy which is part of the Bishopric of Pécs. It is predicted to be over 100 years old, as local papers from 100 years ago wrote about the almond trees on Havihegy. The tree shows visible signs of old age with a thick, twisted trunk typical of old almond trees. The value of the tree does not only come from its old age or from its unique, majestic, and beautiful location, but also from the sentiments of citizens associated with the tree and the place. A well-known poem of the renowned Hungarian poet, Janus Pannonius speaks of a flowering almond tree as a symbol of literacy and culture in Pécs. The Bishop of Pécs wrote a poem about an almond tree in Transdanubia in 1466 that became a symbol of constant renewal. The oldest almond tree is likely to have been planted in the 1880s or afterwards when the grapevines destroyed by grape phylloxera were replaced with almond trees in the city. The now oldest trees in Pécs must have been planted at this time. However, further research into local history is needed to determine the exact time of planting.

The almond tree with a twisted trunk is not the only almond tree on Havihegy. There are other old almond trees around the church that attract visitors including photographers whose photographs have perpetuated the picturesque rocky mountain top with these old trees that have heroically survived the forces of nature and time.

Due its old age and emotional value, the Jurassic Family Hiking Club of the Department of Natural Sciences of Janus Pannonius Museum entered the Almond Tree of Havihegy for the Tree of the Year contest in 2018. Receiving the most votes, the tree became the Tree of the Year in Hungary, which qualified it for the European Tree of the Year contest in 2019. Receiving the highest number of online votes in Europe, the almond tree became the European Tree of the Year in 2019.