Oak Napoleon

The Napoleon Oak, also known as Napoleon's Oak, was a no-longer-existing natural monument with exceptional features, growing in Zabor. It was a pedunculate oak that could boast the title of the thickest known tree of its species in Poland, reaching a circumference of 1052 cm at a height of 1.3 meters and a height of 22 m. The estimated age of the oak was 660-700 years, and its history dates back to around 1300. The characteristic shape of the tree, with its massive trunk and spreading crown, was typical of oaks growing in open terrain. The oak had a large hollow inside, which could accommodate over a dozen people at once. The Napoleon Oak was also closely tied to the cultural and historical events of the region; before the war, it was listed as a natural monument of the Zielona Góra district, and in 1920, the then Princess Hermine von Schönaich-Carolath named it after Professor Theodor Schube, a renowned botanist. After her marriage to the former Emperor Wilhelm II, the tree gained greater popularity. An interesting fact is the legend that Napoleon Bonaparte rested under its branches during his expedition to Russia in 1812. Unfortunately, the oak burned down on November 15, 2010, most likely falling victim to vandalism, as it had been set on fire several times before. Its cultural and ecological significance has cemented its place in the memory of the local community and the historiography of the region.