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Germany

North Rhine-Westphalia

Münster District

Femeiche, Erle

Natural Monuments

North Rhine-Westphalia

Münster District

Kreis Borken

Raesfeld

Femeiche, Erle

Highlight • Natural Monument

Femeiche, Erle

Recommended by 618 cyclists out of 651

This Highlight is in a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Naturpark Hohe Mark - Westmünsterland

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Location: Raesfeld, Kreis Borken, Münster District, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

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Top cycling routes to Femeiche, Erle

4.7

(31)

150

riders

1. Beautiful views from Raesfeld via Borken, Heiden and Rhade – day Tours on the Hohe Mark cycle route

57.3km

03:32

150m

Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

4.6

(96)

413

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2. Krudenburg, a towpath boatmen's village – View of Schloss Gartrop loop from Gahlen

51.7km

03:03

160m

Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

4.8

(96)

315

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3. View of Raesfeld Castle – Üfter Mark Forest Path loop from Lembeck

41.4km

02:35

110m

Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

Tips

Angelina Kuhlmann

May 18, 2021

Anyone who has ever wanted to see one of the oldest oak trees in Germany should stop here. The Femeiche (ancient oak) is estimated by the local community to be 1,500 years old. Many festivals and other important events have been celebrated here over the centuries: raesfeld.de/magazin/artikel.php?artikel=9.

Translated by Google •

Bodo 🚴👍

December 12, 2015

In 1441 the Diepenbrock brothers were ostracized for murdering lay judges under this oak. Over the centuries, lightning and storms have badly damaged the tree, the rotten core of which was hollowed out. There was hardly an event in the village of Erle that was not celebrated in this tree, which measured about three meters in diameter at the bottom. During a maneuver of his troops in 1819, the then Crown Prince, later King Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia, had breakfast with two generals in this.

The Femeiche is about 1500 years old. In pre-Christian times it was consecrated to the god Odin. They were also called Ravenseiche (raven oak). The legend tells that the god Odin sat as a judge under the oak. Its ravens crouched in the branches of the tree. They looked in all directions and told God what was happening around them. It was assumed that under the oak there was also a pagan sacrificial site where sacrifices were made to the gods.

The oak must have been a mighty tree as early as the time of Emperor Charlemagne (around 800 AD). The chronicle reads that until 1589 court was held under the oak tree for murderers and robbers. From the court sessions, the oak today has the name "Femeiche" (feme = court).

Many guests who visit the Femeiche are amazed that the tree can still grow and that it bears green leaves every year. Its trunk is crooked and completely hollow and perforated. Only the thick supports and iron bars hold it upright.

Translated by Google •

Hohnebostel 🚔👮🏻‍♂️🕵️‍♂️

April 8, 2019

Estimated by the German tree archive at 600-850 years, which also represents the maximum age of oaks in Germany. True 1000-year-olds are almost never.

Translated by Google •

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Informations

Elevation 110 m

Weather

Thursday 11 December

11°C

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Max wind speed: 14.0 km/h

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Location: Raesfeld, Kreis Borken, Münster District, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

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Femeiche, Erle

1. Beautiful views from Raesfeld via Borken, Heiden and Rhade – day Tours on the Hohe Mark cycle route

2. Krudenburg, a towpath boatmen's village – View of Schloss Gartrop loop from Gahlen

3. View of Raesfeld Castle – Üfter Mark Forest Path loop from Lembeck

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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