Chêne de la Reine Jeanne

Vence

On the hills overlooking Vence, this old downy oak has kept watch for more than three centuries close to a site steeped in legend, associated with the memory of Queen Jeanne, a name borne by several historical and legendary figures of Provence, often confused in local popular memory. The locality, occupied from the 13th century, preserves the trace of a medieval settlement, of which the tree is thought to be one of the rare living witnesses today. With its 5.4 metres of girth and its crown rising 25 metres, the oak spreads its gnarled branches over the landscape of Vence as if to tell anyone who will listen of the centuries it has lived through. Now a valued teaching resource for the town's schools, it is regularly visited by classes come to raise children's awareness of the preservation of the natural heritage. In 2024, the Reine Jeanne oak represented the Alpes-Maritimes in the national Tree of the Year competition, where it received the jury's "Coup de cœur" award, the judges won over by how deeply it is rooted in the collective memory of Vence. A living symbol of the town, it embodies the continuity between the Middle Ages and our own day, silent but still standing.

Getting there : In Vence, close to the Reine Jeanne site, reached by the paths that run alongside the property; car park near the town centre.

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

Ambient sound