Translation: The Vilanova Oak in Vienna

This oak tree, which now stands in the heart of Vienna’s Stadtpark, is more than just a fragment of nature; it is a living monument to international friendship and collective memory. It was planted in 1999 by the graduating class of 1961 from the Vilanova i la Geltrú School of Industrial Engineering (Barcelona), in commemoration of a history that began long before.

The Origins of a Brotherhood (1961)

In 1960, the Tuna Universitaria (University Tuna) of the School of Industrial Engineering at Vilanova i la Geltrú (Barcelona) toured Austria, during which they presented an exact replica of the Virgin of Montserrat in Mariazell, generating significant media attention at the time. Among other performances, they gave two memorable concerts in Vienna. During a period of recovery and isolation following the war, the discovery of Austrian culture, industry, and hospitality forged an unbreakable emotional bond. What began as a Tuna study trip evolved into a tradition of visits and exchanges that has endured for over sixty years.

The Symbol: The 1999 Oak

In 1999, thirty-nine years after that first experience, the class of 1961 from the Vilanova i la Geltrú School of Industrial Engineering, due to their long name, in Austria they are known as Freunde Österreich (friends of Austria) which has carried out a long and fruitful mission promoting friendship and human relations, was invited by the City of Vienna to plant a tree—this oak—as a lasting tribute. Since then, every year on the Friday before Palm Sunday, the oak is visited and watered with water from various sources connected to them.

An Institutional Legacy

This initiative is not merely a private memory; it forms part of the university’s historical heritage. Therefore, all documentation, photographs, and accounts of this trip are digitally preserved under the official domain of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC).

Hosting this archive in the digital space of the UPC’s Vilanova Polytechnic School (EPSEVG) ensures that future generations of engineers understand that technology and science must always be accompanied by human values and bridges between nations.