“Pig-headed tree””Interesting tree a must see one.”

Updated October 31, 2025

## The “Pig-Headed Tree” of Szeged (Disznófejű fa): what it was, why it mattered, and what you’ll find today

**Address:** Széchenyi tér 3, 6720 Szeged, Hungary
**Coordinates:** 46.2539661, 20.149142
**Rating (historic attraction):** 4.6/5 (user-generated)

### TL;DR
Szeged’s legendary **“Pig-Headed Tree”**—a plane tree on Széchenyi Square whose trunk growth looked uncannily like a wild boar’s head—**was cut down on March 14, 2025** after years of fungal disease made it unsafe on a busy pedestrian axis. The famous “boar-head” wood section has been preserved (physically and digitally) as a local heritage piece, but the living tree is gone. Many older guides still list it as if it were standing—consider those **outdated**. (https://www.szeged.hu/cikk/menthetetlen-a-szegedi-disznofejes-fa-ki-kell-vagni?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

—

## What exactly was the “Pig-Headed Tree”?

Locals nicknamed a **plane tree (Platanus)** on Széchenyi tér the *Disznófejű fa*—literally “pig-headed tree.” The name came from a **burl/overgrowth on a main limb** that, when viewed from the promenade, resembled a **wild boar watching passers-by** from the foliage. The tree likely dated to **around 1890**, part of the square’s historic greening program; its notoriety spread citywide by the 1990s. (https://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diszn%C3%B3fej%C5%B1_fa?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

### Why people cared
– It was a **named tree** in Szeged’s very center—rare enough to become an informal landmark and a small ritual stop for students and visitors. (https://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diszn%C3%B3fej%C5%B1_fa?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
– Local and tourism materials called it out as a quirky **hidden gem** of Széchenyi tér. (Note: those brochures pre-date 2025 and are now **out of date**.) [ Tourinform](https://szegedtourism.hu/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ELMENY-GUIDE-2024-EN-v5.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

—

## 2025: What happened, exactly?

By early 2025, arborists concluded the aging plane tree had suffered **fungal infection, likely following an old frost crack**, and despite years of interventions (cut-outs, impregnation, antifungal treatments), the **structural risk became unacceptable** in such a trafficked location. On **March 14, 2025**, the city removed the tree. Photo and video reports from the day confirm the operation and show the extent of internal decay after sections were taken down. (https://www.szeged.hu/cikk/menthetetlen-a-szegedi-disznofejes-fa-ki-kell-vagni?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

The story didn’t end there. **Authorities and local groups retained the distinctive “boar head” section**, with plans to **preserve and document it** so the motif survives as part of Szeged’s cultural memory. [ Ma](https://szegedma.hu/szeged/2025/04/nem-veszik-el-teljesen-a-legendas-szegedi-disznofeju-platan?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

> **Outdated data flagged:** Several travel pages and even some tourism PDFs created before March–April 2025 still direct visitors to *see* the living “pig-headed” tree on Széchenyi tér. As of **October 28, 2025**, the tree **no longer stands**; treat any “go see the tree” guidance as **historical** context only. [ Tourinform](https://szegedtourism.hu/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ELMENY-GUIDE-2024-EN-v5.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

—

## Where to find the spot—and what you’ll see now

– **Location:** Széchenyi tér (main city square), roughly at **Széchenyi tér 3** on the central promenade. You can still visit the **site** where the tree stood, within the square’s canopy of historic plane trees and landscaping. (https://evendo.com/locations/hungary/szeged-csanad/landmark/pig-headed-tree?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
– **Getting there by rail/tram:** Szeged’s **tram-train (MÁV-Start)** and city trams **serve Széchenyi tér** directly. Maps list **“Széchenyi tér”** as a stop on the interurban **Tram-Train** and city routes; **Line 1 and Line 2** also traverse the square area (check live schedules). (https://www.mavcsoport.hu/sites/default/files/upload/page/vonalhalozat_trkp_tramtrain_2022_web_jav.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
– **Transit snapshot (practical):** Public-transit planners show **Tram/Light-Rail 1/2** and multiple buses/trolleybuses stopping within a minute’s walk of **Széchenyi tér**. Always verify times day-of. (https://moovitapp.com/index/en/public_transit-Sz%C3%A9chenyi_T%C3%A9r-Szeged-stop_33437095-4427?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

—

## What to do instead: a mini-walk around Széchenyi tér

Even without the tree, Széchenyi tér remains one of **Hungary’s grand squares**, lined by **mature plane trees** and notable buildings.

– **Town Hall (Városháza):** Neo-Baroque landmark with a striking tower on the square’s west side—easy photo subject and orientation point. [ Planet](https://www.lonelyplanet.com/hungary/southeastern-hungary/szeged/attractions/town-hall/a/poi-sig/1551497/359549?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
– **Bridge of Sighs (Híd a városháza felett):** A photogenic passage between municipal buildings; you’ll spot it near the Town Hall axis. (Route instructions that say “alight at Széchenyi tér and walk” remain helpful.) (https://evendo.com/locations/hungary/szeged/attraction/bridge-of-sighs?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
– **Promenade trees & planting:** City guides note the square’s **historic tree lines** and seasonal plantings—still a worthwhile stroll, especially in golden hour. (Again, references to the *pig-headed* plane tree in older PDFs are now historical.) [ Tourinform](https://szegedtourism.hu/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/LATNIVALOK-2024-EN-v4.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

—

## Context & culture: how a city gives a tree a name

It’s not common for a city tree to earn a **proper noun**, but Szeged’s “pig-headed” plane tree did—thanks to a **pareidolia-like** trunk growth that read instantly as a boar’s profile. Hungarian sources trace:
– **Planting:** c. **1890** during Széchenyi tér’s greening.
– **Nickname era:** by the **1990s**, the boar-shape fame had spread citywide. (https://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diszn%C3%B3fej%C5%B1_fa?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

This folklore layer explains why the felling in 2025 hit a nerve: it wasn’t just a tree; it was **a character in Szeged’s streetscape**. Local coverage stressed both the **safety imperative** and the effort to **save the boar-head section** for posterity. (https://www.szeged.hu/cikk/menthetetlen-a-szegedi-disznofejes-fa-ki-kell-vagni?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

—

## Visiting tips (2025 onward)

– **Expect absence, not presence.** You’re visiting **the square and its story**, not a standing curiosity. Treat it like paying respects to a retired landmark whose **artifact survives** in custody. (Watch municipal channels for any exhibit of the preserved wood.) [ Ma](https://szegedma.hu/szeged/2025/04/nem-veszik-el-teljesen-a-legendas-szegedi-disznofeju-platan?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
– **Photos that still work:** Frame **Town Hall** under the plane-tree canopy; use the **Bridge of Sighs** as a lead-in line; shoot the **tram-train** gliding through the square for sense-of-place. [ Planet](https://www.lonelyplanet.com/hungary/southeastern-hungary/szeged/attractions/town-hall/a/poi-sig/1551497/359549?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
– **Wayfinding:** Search for **“Széchenyi tér”** in route planners; hop **Tram/Light-Rail 1 or 2** (or the **Tram-Train**) to the **Széchenyi tér** stop. From there, you’re already on the square. (https://www.mavcsoport.hu/sites/default/files/upload/page/vonalhalozat_trkp_tramtrain_2022_web_jav.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
– **Accessibility:** The square is **flat and paved** with frequent transit stops immediately adjacent—convenient for **wheelchairs, strollers, and mobility aids**. (Confirm current curb-cut or construction conditions on arrival.)

—

## FAQ

**Is the “Pig-Headed Tree” still standing?**
No. It was **removed on March 14, 2025** due to advanced internal decay from fungal infection and associated safety risks. (https://www.szeged.hu/cikk/menthetetlen-a-szegedi-disznofejes-fa-ki-kell-vagni?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

**Why can some guidebooks still say it’s there?**
Printed PDFs and older web pages pre-dating spring 2025 still circulate. They haven’t been updated post-removal—treat as **historical references**. [ Tourinform](https://szegedtourism.hu/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ELMENY-GUIDE-2024-EN-v5.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

**Can I see the famous “boar head” itself?**
Authorities stated the **boar-head wood section was saved** and will survive both **physically and digitally** for future display/interpretation. Watch local channels for exhibit announcements. [ Ma](https://szegedma.hu/szeged/2025/04/nem-veszik-el-teljesen-a-legendas-szegedi-disznofeju-platan?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

—

## Responsible travel notes

– **Respect site changes:** Don’t trespass into planted beds hunting for “the exact stump.” The square is fully enjoyable without the tree itself.
– **Support urban tree care:** If you’re moved by the story, Szeged runs ongoing **urban-tree maintenance programs**; locals worked for years to keep this tree stable before removal. (https://www.szeged.hu/cikk/menthetetlen-a-szegedi-disznofejes-fa-ki-kell-vagni?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

—

### Bottom line
Szeged’s **“Pig-Headed Tree”** is now a **memory with a preserved artifact**, not a live attraction. The good news: **Széchenyi tér** remains an essential stop—**grand plane trees, civic architecture, and tram-train energy**—and the city chose to **honor the tree’s character** by saving its most iconic piece. Build your visit around the square itself and the nearby highlights; bring the story with you, and you’ll still walk away with distinctly Szeged photos—and a local legend in your pocket. [ Ma](https://szegedma.hu/szeged/2025/04/nem-veszik-el-teljesen-a-legendas-szegedi-disznofeju-platan?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

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The “Pig-Headed Tree” of Szeged (Disznófejű fa): what it was, why it mattered, and what you’ll find today

Address: Széchenyi tér 3, 6720 Szeged, Hungary
Coordinates: 46.2539661, 20.149142
Rating (historic attraction): 4.6/5 (user-generated)

TL;DR

Szeged’s legendary “Pig-Headed Tree”—a plane tree on Széchenyi Square whose trunk growth looked uncannily like a wild boar’s head—was cut down on March 14, 2025 after years of fungal disease made it unsafe on a busy pedestrian axis. The famous “boar-head” wood section has been preserved (physically and digitally) as a local heritage piece, but the living tree is gone. Many older guides still list it as if it were standing—consider those outdated. oai_citation:0‡Szeged

What exactly was the “Pig-Headed Tree”?

Locals nicknamed a plane tree (Platanus) on Széchenyi tér the Disznófejű fa—literally “pig-headed tree.” The name came from a burl/overgrowth on a main limb that, when viewed from the promenade, resembled a wild boar watching passers-by from the foliage. The tree likely dated to around 1890, part of the square’s historic greening program; its notoriety spread citywide by the 1990s. oai_citation:1‡Wikipedia

Why people cared

• It was a named tree in Szeged’s very center—rare enough to become an informal landmark and a small ritual stop for students and visitors. oai_citation:2‡Wikipedia
• Local and tourism materials called it out as a quirky hidden gem of Széchenyi tér. (Note: those brochures pre-date 2025 and are now out of date.) oai_citation:3‡Szeged Tourinform

2025: What happened, exactly?

By early 2025, arborists concluded the aging plane tree had suffered fungal infection, likely following an old frost crack, and despite years of interventions (cut-outs, impregnation, antifungal treatments), the structural risk became unacceptable in such a trafficked location. On March 14, 2025, the city removed the tree. Photo and video reports from the day confirm the operation and show the extent of internal decay after sections were taken down. oai_citation:4‡Szeged

The story didn’t end there. Authorities and local groups retained the distinctive “boar head” section, with plans to preserve and document it so the motif survives as part of Szeged’s cultural memory. oai_citation:5‡Szeged Ma

Outdated data flagged: Several travel pages and even some tourism PDFs created before March–April 2025 still direct visitors to see the living “pig-headed” tree on Széchenyi tér. As of October 28, 2025, the tree no longer stands; treat any “go see the tree” guidance as historical context only. oai_citation:6‡Szeged Tourinform

Where to find the spot—and what you’ll see now

• Location: Széchenyi tér (main city square), roughly at Széchenyi tér 3 on the central promenade. You can still visit the site where the tree stood, within the square’s canopy of historic plane trees and landscaping. oai_citation:7‡Evendo
• Getting there by rail/tram: Szeged’s tram-train (MÁV-Start) and city trams serve Széchenyi tér directly. Maps list “Széchenyi tér” as a stop on the interurban Tram-Train and city routes; Line 1 and Line 2 also traverse the square area (check live schedules). oai_citation:8‡MÁV-csoport
• Transit snapshot (practical): Public-transit planners show Tram/Light-Rail 1/2 and multiple buses/trolleybuses stopping within a minute’s walk of Széchenyi tér. Always verify times day-of. oai_citation:9‡Moovit

What to do instead: a mini-walk around Széchenyi tér

Even without the tree, Széchenyi tér remains one of Hungary’s grand squares, lined by mature plane trees and notable buildings.

• Town Hall (Városháza): Neo-Baroque landmark with a striking tower on the square’s west side—easy photo subject and orientation point. oai_citation:10‡Lonely Planet
• Bridge of Sighs (Híd a városháza felett): A photogenic passage between municipal buildings; you’ll spot it near the Town Hall axis. (Route instructions that say “alight at Széchenyi tér and walk” remain helpful.) oai_citation:11‡Evendo
• Promenade trees & planting: City guides note the square’s historic tree lines and seasonal plantings—still a worthwhile stroll, especially in golden hour. (Again, references to the pig-headed plane tree in older PDFs are now historical.) oai_citation:12‡Szeged Tourinform

Context & culture: how a city gives a tree a name

It’s not common for a city tree to earn a proper noun, but Szeged’s “pig-headed” plane tree did—thanks to a pareidolia-like trunk growth that read instantly as a boar’s profile. Hungarian sources trace:
– Planting: c. 1890 during Széchenyi tér’s greening.
– Nickname era: by the 1990s, the boar-shape fame had spread citywide. oai_citation:13‡Wikipedia

This folklore layer explains why the felling in 2025 hit a nerve: it wasn’t just a tree; it was a character in Szeged’s streetscape. Local coverage stressed both the safety imperative and the effort to save the boar-head section for posterity. oai_citation:14‡Szeged

Visiting tips (2025 onward)

• Expect absence, not presence. You’re visiting the square and its story, not a standing curiosity. Treat it like paying respects to a retired landmark whose artifact survives in custody. (Watch municipal channels for any exhibit of the preserved wood.) oai_citation:15‡Szeged Ma
• Photos that still work: Frame Town Hall under the plane-tree canopy; use the Bridge of Sighs as a lead-in line; shoot the tram-train gliding through the square for sense-of-place. oai_citation:16‡Lonely Planet
• Wayfinding: Search for “Széchenyi tér” in route planners; hop Tram/Light-Rail 1 or 2 (or the Tram-Train) to the Széchenyi tér stop. From there, you’re already on the square. oai_citation:17‡MÁV-csoport
• Accessibility: The square is flat and paved with frequent transit stops immediately adjacent—convenient for wheelchairs, strollers, and mobility aids. (Confirm current curb-cut or construction conditions on arrival.)

FAQ

Is the “Pig-Headed Tree” still standing?
No. It was removed on March 14, 2025 due to advanced internal decay from fungal infection and associated safety risks. oai_citation:18‡Szeged

Why can some guidebooks still say it’s there?
Printed PDFs and older web pages pre-dating spring 2025 still circulate. They haven’t been updated post-removal—treat as historical references. oai_citation:19‡Szeged Tourinform

Can I see the famous “boar head” itself?
Authorities stated the boar-head wood section was saved and will survive both physically and digitally for future display/interpretation. Watch local channels for exhibit announcements. oai_citation:20‡Szeged Ma

Responsible travel notes

• Respect site changes: Don’t trespass into planted beds hunting for “the exact stump.” The square is fully enjoyable without the tree itself.
• Support urban tree care: If you’re moved by the story, Szeged runs ongoing urban-tree maintenance programs; locals worked for years to keep this tree stable before removal. oai_citation:21‡Szeged

Bottom line

Szeged’s “Pig-Headed Tree” is now a memory with a preserved artifact, not a live attraction. The good news: Széchenyi tér remains an essential stop—grand plane trees, civic architecture, and tram-train energy—and the city chose to honor the tree’s character by saving its most iconic piece. Build your visit around the square itself and the nearby highlights; bring the story with you, and you’ll still walk away with distinctly Szeged photos—and a local legend in your pocket. oai_citation:22‡Szeged Ma

Data verified as of October 28, 2025; older brochures that recommend “visiting the pig-headed tree” are outdated. oai_citation:23‡Szeged Tourinform