Liernu's Big oak-tree EGHEZEE / BELGIUM description:Ths probably is the most impressing tree in Belgium and probably the
lbiggest from the Benelux. At the bottom, the girth is 14.24 meter, at 1 meter it is 10.82
meter. It is a quercus pendunculata - pendonculate oak tree.
The net-wire was placed in 1898 - renewed in 2000. Since April 4th in 1939, it is
protected. In 1981, it was twinned with the oak-chapel from Allouville-
Bellefosse (Normandie in France) and in 1991 to the Bump-oak of
Châtillon in the Swiss Jura.
The interior of this tree is gone. Next to the centuries themselves, he survived a
serious struck of lightning. Anyway, because the kernel is gone, it is not possible
anymore to define the exact age.
We do know though, that at the end of the Middle Ages, the tree was used as court-tree.
It probably also served as gallows.
Anyway, the crack is the result of the struck of lightning. We don't know when this
happened, but since then, the interior of the tree sometimes was used as shelter. During
the 18th century, fires were made inside the tree. The crack and the hole then served as
chimney. Around 1838, the local government wanted to get the tree down, and give the wood
to the local people. But the local priest could prevent this, by bringing the statue of
the Holey Saint-Antony the Hermit inside the tree. A bench to set and pray was added, and
the tree survived.
Nederlands
Français
  
|
