The tree is estimated to be between 800 and 1,000 years old, making it one of the oldest living organisms in the Czech Republic.
A 2009 storm caused the loss of a primary structural branch, leading to the installation of steel support cables to stabilize the remaining canopy.
The legendary meeting between Prince Oldřich and Božena at this tree is a foundational narrative in the mythos of the Premyslid dynasty.
The tree was significantly damaged by a lightning strike in the 20th century, which hollowed out portions of the trunk.
Oldřich Oak was featured on a 2002 Czech postage stamp commemorating historic trees.
Oldřich Oak, located in the village of Peruc, is an ancient pedunculate oak tree estimated to be over 1,000 years old. Legend ties the tree to Prince Oldřich and a local peasant girl named Božena, whom he supposedly met beneath its boughs in 1004. The tree has a trunk circumference of approximately 7.5 meters and stands about 30 meters tall. Despite significant storm damage in 2009 that caused a major branch to break, the tree remains alive and is actively preserved by arborists. It is situated on the edge of a small valley known as the Gallows Valley near the local manor house. The site is a protected natural monument in the Czech Republic.
From the wooden viewing platform positioned to provide a full profile view of the tree without obstruction from the protective fence.
Visit during the spring or summer when the foliage is fully developed to appreciate the scale of the tree's canopy.
Bring walking shoes as the area surrounding the tree involves gentle slopes and unpaved paths.
Attempting to touch or climb the trunk, as the protective barrier is there to prevent soil compaction and damage to the root system.
Do not climb the tree or step over the protective fence surrounding the trunk; respect the designated viewing area.
