The King Oak – Denmark’s Oldest Living Tree in Jægerspris Nordskov
The King Oak stands as a living testament to Denmark’s natural and cultural history in Jægerspris Nordskov. Estimated to be between 1,400 and 1,900 years old, this ancient oak has witnessed centuries of change since forests once covered large parts of Hornsherred.
Today, the King Oak appears as a monumental hollow trunk with a few surviving branches, surrounded by the rich forest landscape. In its prime, the tree measured more than 14 metres in circumference and was already a mighty oak when King Gorm the Old united the Danish realm around the year 900.
A Meeting Point of Nature and History
Jægerspris Nordskov is home to several ancient oaks, but the King Oak is the only one still alive among the three famous trees. The others – the Stork Oak and the Snail Oak – remain as impressive natural monuments within the forest.
Explore the Forest Landscape
The forest offers marked cycling and hiking routes leading through varied woodland and wetlands such as Bredvig Mose, one of the closest impressions of the primeval forest that once covered northern Hornsherred. Maps of the area are available at Rejsestalden in Jægerspris to help plan the visit.