A Tree That Remembers the Arrival of the Pálffy Family in Malacky: A 500-Year-Old Oak is the Tree of the Year 2023

In the 21st edition of the Tree of the Year competition, more than 19,000 tree enthusiasts cast their votes, deciding that the title of Tree of the Year 2023 would go to Malacky. The English Oak from the Castle Park received 4,201 votes from the public and will represent Slovakia in the European Tree of the Year competition in the spring.

Close behind the winning oak, with 2,966 votes, was the London Plane tree from Žiar nad Hronom, growing in the courtyard of the Bishop’s Manor House. Third place, with 2,112 votes, was awarded to the Scots Pine from Žilina, located near the well-known Paľova Búda. Each of the winners will receive an evaluation and treatment by experts worth 300 euros. The results were announced on October 13, 2023, at the Slovenská Sporiteľňa headquarters in Bratislava.

Competition for Schools

Schools participating in the competition were also rewarded this year. In the first category, where the number of participating students determined the winners, the first place went to the Májové Námestie Primary School in Prešov with 829 votes. Second place was awarded to Veľkomoravská Primary School in Trenčín with 773 votes, and the Juraj Fándly Primary School in Sereď secured a close third place with 748 votes.

“In the second category, we awarded schools for their additional environmental activities. The decision wasn’t based on the number of students but aimed to be fair to smaller schools or classes by allowing them to showcase their efforts to honor unique and interesting trees and to teach the importance of trees,” explains Martina Hromadová from the Ekopolis Foundation. The awarded school, Jána Smreka Primary School in Melčice-Lieskové, received planting materials worth 150 euros. This school also nominated the protected Gray-Green Oak for the competition, which ranked eighth this year. The second and third places in this category, which were rewarded with smaller prizes for young students, went to Haburská Kindergarten in Prešov and the Boarding School in Žilina, respectively.

Continuing Activities in the Competition

“In the competition, we still have tree treatments ahead of us, not just for the winning trees. Thanks to our collaboration with ISA Slovakia, we are able each year to treat trees that were nominated for the competition but did not make it to the finals. However, their condition often deserves even greater attention,” adds Hromadová.

For the fourth time, the competition will also feature public tree planting. This event is scheduled for late November and will involve volunteers from the Kozel Green Protection Club. “We plan to plant additional trees in Senica–Čáčov and Vrbovce–Štefanová. In both cases, the planting will restore tree alleys damaged by wildlife. Fifteen mature trees will be planted with the participation of volunteers and the wider public. Gathering people for volunteer activities and good causes is particularly important in today’s polarized social climate. Besides saving old and valuable trees, this initiative also brings trees back to places where they are missing,” says Milan Hronec from the Ekopolis Foundation.

The main partner of the Tree of the Year competition is the Slovenská Sporiteľňa Foundation. Other supporters include ISA Slovakia (International Arboricultural Society), Dajama Publishing, Artforum Bookstore, and ABIES Gardening. The competition has been under the patronage of singer Peter Lipa for 11 years. Martin Babarík prepares the tree photography for the competition.

The mission of the Tree of the Year competition is to highlight old, rare, or endangered trees, and  interest in environmental protection.

 

Tree of the Year 2023 Results:

FINAL RANKING

1st place	English Oak, Malacky	4,201
2nd place	London Plane, Žiar nad Hronom	2,966
3rd place	Scots Pine, Žilina	2,112
4.	English Oak, Bukovce	1,944
5.	Common Pear, Boleráz	1,671
6.	London Plane, Jelšava	1,307
7.	Horse Chestnut, Topoľčany	1,283
8.	Gray-Green Oak, Melčice-Lieskové	1,243
9.	Maidenhair Tree, Prešov	924
10.	Small-Leaved Lime, Lipovec	806
11.	English Walnut, Kremnica	721
12.	London Plane, Bratislava	710

Stories of the Winning Trees:

1st Place: English Oak (Quercus robur)

Age: 500 years, Trunk Circumference: 660 cm, Height: 20 m
Location: Castle Park, Malacky, Bratislava Region

The Pálffy Memorial Oak
The Pálffy Oak is one of the few trees whose story began before the arrival of the Pálffy family in Malacky—before the adjacent manor house and park, now national cultural monuments, were built. Slow down, listen to the rustling leaves and birdsong, and the tree will share stories of the noble Pálffy family, Napoleonic armies, ancient romances, epidemics, fires, markets, and fairs. It is home to many organisms, a refuge during summer days, a companion for park strolls, and a trusted friend. It is one of the oldest specimens within the grounds of the Castle Park National Cultural  Monument and one of the last remaining trees incorporated into the park’s original design, made up of trees from the surrounding wild forests near the manor.

2nd Place: London Plane (Platanus acerifolia)

Age: 150 years, Trunk Circumference: 304 cm, Height: 24 m
Location: Bishop’s Manor Courtyard, Žiar nad Hronom, Banská Bystrica Region

A Symbol of Connection
There are several legends associated with the plane tree in the courtyard of the Bishop’s Manor House in Žiar nad Hronom. One of them says that the tree was planted by a bishop as a symbol of the connection between heaven and earth—its crown reaching the sky, while its roots delve deep into the earth. According to this legend, the tree also symbolizes the union of spiritual and secular power. Based on available historical records, the tree was likely planted in the manor’s courtyard in the 19th century, though the exact year remains unknown. Today, the plane tree is a significant landmark of the town and is protected as part of the local cultural heritage. Due to its location, it is hidden from public view, but everyone who sees it is immediately captivated by its beauty.

 

3rd Place: Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris)

Age: 120 years, Trunk Circumference: 350 cm, Height: 25 m
Location: University Pastoral Center, Žilina, Žilina Region

The Pine at Paľova Búda
The Scots pine stands peacefully in the Chrast Forest Park in Žilina, between Veľký Diel and Malý Diel, and has witnessed many events in the social, cultural, and sporting life of the area over the years. It was already growing there in 1925 when Pavol Folkmann, a hotelier from Žilina, built a wooden two-story building with two small towers along the old road—known as “Paľova búda.” Over time, the building housed a forest restaurant, a bowling alley, a dance hall, the convent of the Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius, a social care institution, various university facilities, and even a café. Today, the building near the pine tree serves as the University Pastoral Center of the University of Žilina. Together, the tree and Paľova búda form an extraordinary pair, adding charm to the modern campus of the University of Žilina. The pine tree towers high and shelters the area with its four sturdy trunks.

Photos and Stories of All Finalists can be found at www.ekopolis.sk Illustrative Photos and Nomination Videos for download: https://we.tl/t-lMLBudoU1M

 

Contact:
Ekopolis Foundation, Komenského 21, 974 01 Banská Bystrica
Martina Hromadová, +421 908 371 289, hromadova@ekopolis.sk