The almond tree of Pécs has been crowned the European Tree of the Year.
Beating trees from fourteen countries, the old almond tree in front of the entrance to the Snowy Hill church in Pécs finished in first place in the renowned European contest.
The European Tree of the Year contest originated in 2011 and consists of winners from national rounds. Online voting is organized by the Environmental Partnership Association.
The outcome of the vote was presented in Brussels on March 19th with a total of 45,132 votes. The almond tree from Southern-Hungary became the winner, followed by the Abramtsevo Oak (Russian Federation) and the Secular Holm Oak from Monte Barbeiro (Portugal).
The almond tree became a symbol of the eternal renewal of Pécs city after Janus Pannonius Bishop-poet of Pécs wrote poems about a Transdanubian almond tree in 1466. The victory will be celebrated with picnics in the shadow of the almond tree.