The Oldřich Oak also known as the Prince Oldřich Oak, is a Pedunculate Oak

Pedunculate Oak

Quercus robur is commonly known as the Pedunculate Oak or English oak. It is native to most of Europe, and to Anatolia to the Caucasus, and also to parts of North Africa.-Taxonomy:Q...

 (Quercus robur) tree
located in the market town

Market town

Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...

 of Peruc

Peruc

Peruc is a market town in the Ústí nad Labem Region of the Czech Republic. It has around 2,100 inhabitants.The villages of Černochov, Hřivčice, Chrastín, Pátek, Radonice nad Ohří, Stradonice and Telce are administrative parts of Peruc....

 in the Czech Republic

Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....

 that is estimated to be about 1,000 years old.
The tree has a height of 30 m (98.4 ft) and a trunk

Trunk (botany)

In botany, trunk refers to the main wooden axis of a tree that supports the branches and is supported by and directly attached to the roots. The trunk is covered by the bark, which is an important diagnostic feature in tree identification, and which often differs markedly from the bottom of the...

 circumference

Circumference

The circumference is the distance around a closed curve. Circumference is a special perimeter.-Circumference of a circle:The circumference of a circle is the length around it....

 of 810 cm (318.9 in).

The tree derives its name from a legend

Legend

A legend is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude...

, set in the 11th century, involving Oldřich of Bohemia

Oldrich of Bohemia

Ulrich was the duke of Bohemia from 1012 to 1033 and briefly in 1034. He was a son of Boleslaus II and brother of Boleslaus III and Jaromir....

 and Božena, the mother of his only son. According to the legend, Oldřich set out on a hunt and travelled to Peruc. There, he spied a beautiful peasant

Peasant

A peasant is an agricultural worker who generally tend to be poor and homeless-Etymology:The word is derived from 15th century French païsant meaning one from the pays, or countryside, ultimately from the Latin pagus, or outlying administrative district.- Position in society :Peasants typically...

 girl, Božena, by a well (known today as Božena's spring)
and was immediately entranced by her. Oldřich abandoned his hunt and took Božena back to Prague

Prague

Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...

, and she eventually gave birth to his son Bretislaus

Bretislaus I of Bohemia

Bretislaus I , known as Bohemian Achilles, of the house of the Přemyslids, was the duke of Bohemia from 1035 till death.-Youth:...

. In the legend, Oldřich's first meeting with Božena took place in sight of the Oldřich Oak.

The Oldřich Oak is mentioned in the Chronicle of Dalimil

Chronicle of Dalimil

The Chronicle of Dalimil or Chronicle of so-called Dalimil is the first chronicle or story written in Czech language. It was created in verses by an unknown author at the beginning of the 14th century. The Chronicle compiles information of older Czech chronicles written in Latin and also the...

.

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