Chêne des Sorcières

Saint-Avold

Standing in the state forest of Saint-Avold, this double-trunked oak owes its name to a local legend according to which it served as a meeting place for witches on their way to the sabbath on their broomsticks, its two intertwined trunks having been, it is said, "magically fused" by them. Awarded the "Arbre remarquable de France" (Remarkable Tree of France) label, it is today weakened by wood-eating fungi and industrial pollution, held up by metal props and protected by a fence; cuttings have been taken to secure its genetic descendants. In 2009, a deliberate fire partly charred its base.

Getting there : Waymarked path "Circuit du Chêne des Sorcières", dedicated car park, Saint-Avold state forest

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

Ambient sound