Napoleon Oak

The Napoleon Oak is a large oak tree on the Dorigny campus of the University of Lausanne that reaches about 30 meters in height with a trunk circumference of roughly 7 meters. The tree is supported by numerous steel cables that help maintain its structure against the elements and age.

The oak was planted in 1800 at about age 22 at its current location to commemorate Napoleon's crossing of Switzerland during his military campaign toward Italy. The tree has witnessed the entire development of the university from the early 19th century to today.

The tree serves as a symbolic landmark on campus where students and visitors encounter a living connection to European history through a natural monument.

The tree is freely accessible on the university campus and easy to reach on foot without special permissions required. The best time to visit is during university hours when the grounds are open and well-frequented.

In 2017 the entire genetic code of the tree was sequenced to study genetic mutations, leading to breakthrough insights about how ancient trees remain biologically stable. The study revealed surprisingly low mutation rates that changed understanding of how trees survive over centuries.