“A tree is our most intimate contact with nature.”
― George Nakashima

If you love trees (and who doesn’t?), you will be amazed by this beautiful tree! It grows in Zagnańsk near Kielce in the Świętorzyskie  Mountains (Góry Świętokrzyskie).  Its age, long estimated at up to 1200 years, has recently been determined more exactly, with a corer used to extract a sample for proper counting of the growth rings. An accurate count is impossible, as Bartek’s interior has hollowed with age. There are several older trees in Poland, both oaks and yews (some over 1000 years old), yet none of them has matched Bartek’s fame. Since 1954, it has been protected as a natural monument.

The 30-metre tall Bartek measures 13.5 metres in girth at its base. Its crown spreads about 40 metres. Under the Bartek oak tree, King Casimir III is known to have been pictured as holding his court. It is also told that Jan III Sobieski rested under this tree on his way back from the Battle of Vienna, and hid a Turkish sabre, an arquebus and a bottle of wine inside it.

The oak is still alive, but is in decline. In 1829 it had 14 main branches, today only 8 are left.

It is definitely an interesting place to visit. A lot of people try to bring friends with them to figure out how many many arms you need to hug this tree! If you are in the area, definitely stop by, before it’s going to be too late!