Swedish Oak in Weida

One of the most beautiful waypoints: the magnificent oak! Grandiose 800 years old.

A ray of light in astonishing proportions.

Tree species: English oak (Quercus robur)

Age: 500 years

Trunk circumference at 1m height: 7.20 m (multiple trunks)

The Swedish oak stands outside of Weida, on the edge of a garden house settlement. In the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), 1643 Swedish troops stood at the gates of Weida. The city was then eventually recaptured by the Swedes. The oak was declared a Swedish oak in 1644 by the population out of gratitude. That's what a story says. In 2004 and 2005, branches of the broad crown that were in danger of breaking were supported by five posts.

Special feature: High structural requirements are placed on the steel supports, which have been relieving the huge crown since 2005. The supports resting on foundations with stainless steel anchors have to absorb a vertical load of up to 9 tons (!) and a horizontal wind load of 1.5 tons.

Source: natuerlich-vogtland.de/natur/schuetzte-landschaften/naturdenkmale/poi/stieleiche-in-weida-schwedeneiche.html