Stelmužė Oak

The Stelmužė Oak is a very old tree in Zarasai District in northeastern Lithuania, growing in the park of a former manor. The trunk measures 13 meters in circumference at its widest point, and the crown reaches a height of 23 meters (75 feet).

Experts estimate the tree began growing between 1500 and 2000 years ago, long before the Lithuanian state came into being. Inside its hollow interior, people later found the remains of a soldier from the Napoleonic campaigns.

The tree stood at the center of religious ceremonies for centuries, where people lit fires beneath its branches and made offerings to the gods. Today visitors come here to sense the connection to pre-Christian times and experience the presence of a living witness to ancient rituals.

You can find the tree in the park of the former Stelmužė Manor, about 160 kilometers (100 miles) from Vilnius in the northeastern part of the country. The surroundings are quiet and suit a short stop during a longer drive through rural areas.

A Czech tree specialist named Martin Nemec has cared for the tree since 2005, applying methods to protect it from disease and damage. Thanks to this care, the interior stays dry and the structure remains stable, even though the trunk is hollow inside.