Giant Plane With Untrue Legend and Other Extraordinary Trees

During the successfully defended Turkish attack against the Eger castle the Turk army was directed from under this tree. Unfortunately the legend is not true, this tree was planted together with many others at the time when Karoly Eszterhazy was the bishop of the city in 18th Century.

The nominators of the tree to the Tree of the Year contest are taking good care of all trees in the area with the help of fireworkers. The tree is protected since 1978.

Its huge trunk consisting of several ingrown seedlings standing in the middle of a manor park resembles a wind-rose. As a noble gift from previous generations and the anonymous gardener who planted the tree.

The plane constitutes a symbol for those who engage actively in their community since people perish but trees stay to tell their story..

The plane is a venue for local activities such as competitions, gatherings, concerts, sport and community events. It is a meeting point for couples in love and children. It is a focal point around which current community life revolves; exactly as it used to revolve centuries ago.

To climb its majestic lower branches - that now touch the ground and stretch to an amazing 50 meters was a sign of great courage. Teenage romances started and ended at this mysterious giant tree.

"As a young boy growing up in Tullamore, my fascination with the King Oak was tinged with fear. As children we were told that if a branch fell from the tree a member of the Hutton-Bury family – the owners of Charleville Estate, would die."

"In 1963, a bolt of lightening did strike the tree and true to legend, Colonel Charles Hutton-Bury died some weeks later."

The alley of 57 limes planted at the beginning of the 19th Century is a remain of alleys bordering the road from the Blansek castle to the town of Blansko.

Reclamation of this beautiful alley started 2 years ago as an initiative of three students. After the removal of undergrowth, the alley got a pruning treatment.

It used to be a part of the park surrounding the local castle, summer house of the Grassalkovic family. The park resembled a floodplain forest.

During the renovation of the castle between 1852 and 1872, the premisses were rebuilt into a park. This is probably when the plane tree was planted, it is provable it is at least 140 years old. 

Thus Stefan Stefanov set forth on a journey of historical findings linking the place to outstanding figures of the Bulgarian Ottoman Liberation period. Pascal Voevoda has once been the owner of the house and has often gathered the rebels under the trees, which now keep the long-gone historic secrets. 

The trees are at the starting point of a former Roman road. Historic sources link the site to the ancient Thracian civilisation - only 1 km away mounds and a sanctuary have been found. The locals are committed to promote the protected trees along with their rich historic heritage.