Rakoczy Oak

Oak Rakoczi ( Slovak. Rákocziho Dub ) is a legendary Slovak tree located on the periphery of the Stražovske-Vrhi massif near the village of Podlužany . The exact age of the tree is unknown, but it is assumed that it is at least 325 years old. The height of the tree is 17 m, the circumference of the trunk is 433 cm. The object of protection since 1996. In 2012, he was nominated for the title of Tree of the Year in Slovakia ^[1] .

It is known for certain that the leader of the anti-Austrian uprising against the Habsburgs (1703-1711), the Transylvanian prince Ferenc II Rakotsi , once set up his camp under an oak tree after a long transition with his army. A battle broke out near him on August 3, 1708, known as the Battle of Rakoczy Oak. During the battle, Rakotsi lost consciousness and fell from his horse, but the soldiers mistakenly decided that he had died and fled in panic. His entire army was defeated, which led to the defeat of the entire uprising. In memory of the prince and his army, this tree got its name.

Today, the oak Rakoczi is considered one of the symbols of Slovakia and Podluzhen: it is a vacation spot for many tourists and nature lovers.