Stelmužė Explained

Stelmužė is a village in Zarasai district municipality of Lithuania.

There is a wooden chapel built in 1650 not using saws or iron nails; it is the oldest wooden religious building in Lithuania. Stelmužė is also known for the Tower of Slaves (Lithuanian: Vergų bokštas), a rectangular building constructed of stone and bricks in the 18th century, used for imprisonment of serfs. It was restored and registered as a 17th century architectural cultural monument.[1]

The village is famous for its Stelmužė Oak, the oldest in Lithuania and one of the oldest in Europe. The oak is about one and a half thousand years old.[2] It is often called the tree that is "older than Lithuania itself."[3] It has been through a long range of historical events, having had sacrifices by pagan priests conducted under it and a skeleton and rifle of a Napoleonic soldier found in its cavity.[4]

It was nominated for Tree of the Year in 2017, receiving 12th place and 5,245 votes.[5]

References

55.8275°N 26.2197°W

Notes and References

  1. https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/lietuvoje/2/1202042/legendomis-apipintas-dvaras-slepia-itin-ziauria-istorija-bokste-kalino-baudziauninkus-juos-maine-i-sunis Legendomis apipintas dvaras slepia itin žiaurią istoriją: bokšte kalino baudžiauninkus, juos mainė į šunis
  2. Web site: Lietuvos metų medžiu išrinktas Stelmužės ąžuolas . Zarasų Rajono Savivaldybė . 2016-10-18 . 2021-09-28 . lt . Stelmužė oak was chosen as the Lithuanian tree of the year.
  3. Web site: The Lithuanian Oak That Is Older Than Lithuania Itself . 2023-11-09 . mokomesapie.lt.
  4. Web site: Tree of the year . 2023-11-09 . www.treeoftheyear.org.
  5. Web site: Tree of the year . 2023-11-09 . www.treeoftheyear.org.