wonderful Oak, more than 400 years old, stands in the municipality of Coripe in Seville. It was chosen as the most beautiful tree in Spain in an annual competition run by the NGO Bosques sin Fronteras. The award recognizes the most symbolic tree exemplars across the country and highlights their cultural and natural significance.
According to a statement released by the City Council and echoed on the competition website, this year’s honor does more than celebrate the winning tree. It also draws attention to the Sierra de Cádiz Seville Greenway, the scenic route where the tree is located, emphasizing regional conservation and sustainable travel opportunities.
El Chaparro de la Vega, the popular name for this oak, received 3,429 votes while a nearby contender, the Cypresses of Glorieta de Bécquer in María Luisa Park in Seville, tallied 3,715 votes, and 2,690 votes went to a Himalayan cedar from the Jerez de la Frontera Zoo Botanical Center in Cadiz. These figures illustrate the broad local support for nature’s icons that people cherish in their communities.
Witness of daily life
The winning tree is celebrated for its extraordinary dimensions and is viewed as a clear reference point for local residents who encounter it in their everyday environment. The site hosting the tree highlights its significance beyond mere size, underscoring its role as a living symbol of shared history and community identity.
Numerous recreational and festive activities take place under its shade, with the Pilgrimage to Fatima in mid May standing out. For many years, the surrounding area has hosted environmental education activities due to the distinctive setting and the engagement of residents with the landscape.
On November 23, 2001, it was declared a Natural Monument by the Junta de Andalucía, a designation that recognizes its ecological value and cultural resonance. The tree sits within a gentle, mountainous landscape of pastures and rolling hills. When the horizon broadens, limestone slopes rise sharply, clothed with dense scrub, creating a backdrop that invites visitors to explore on foot, by bicycle, or on horseback.
Locals express a deep attachment to the tree, describing how it forms part of daily life, acts as a point of pride, and is protected as part of the community’s long history. This sentiment—shared by families and neighbors—captures the emotional and cultural importance of tree guardianship in the region.
All winners: https://www.arbolybosquedelao.example (citation) [Citation: Official competition archive]
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Contact address of the environmental department: [citation]