Žeberská lípa, Solitary lime tree in Kundratice u Chomutova, Vysoká Pec, Czech Republic
Žeberská lípa is a small-leaved lime, now dead since 2020, with a trunk circumference of 740 cm and a hollow treated with asphalt. Only one skeletal branch remains, bent toward the ground, and the tree is propped up in several places. It stands on the left bank of the Vesnický stream at the southern edge of the Jezerka reserve.
The lime tree is linked by legend to Starý Žeberk, a castle built in the 13th century and abandoned by the end of the 14th. It was declared a protected tree of the Czech Republic only in 2010, and in 2020 it died, probably because the bed of the adjacent Vesnický stream was altered carelessly.
The tree's name comes from the nearby ruins of Starý Žeberk Castle, built in the 13th century. A local legend tells of a castle lord who threw a girl from the walls; a farmer hid her in the tree's hollow until she recovered. In 2009 the lime was a finalist in the Tree of the Year contest, nominated by Rostislav Vošický and Vlaďka Kulhavá.
Access to this tree comes through hiking trails from several entry points around the nature reserve. The best time to visit is during warmer months when the paths are easiest to navigate.
The lime was a finalist in the 2009 Tree of the Year contest, nominated by Rostislav Vošický and Vlaďka Kulhavá, and placed tenth. It was also filmed for the television series Paměť stromů but cut for running time, appearing only in the bonus making-of episode and the accompanying book.
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