The oak, also called the Great Oak of Vadakste had reached the circumference of 7.8 m before it broke. Once it used to be the fattest secular tree of the Saldus district. The oak fell around year 1980, but before that its hollow was burnt out. The huge tree fell over steep bank of the river and partly into it, however, after another 30 years its trunk has been well preserved and can be inspected by any interested person.
Narrative
About the oak there are legends dating back to the beginning of the 20th century which describe the miraculous force of the place. Peasants used to lay various sacrifices at the hill – pieces of meat, yarn and other things. Healing properties were attributed to both the dew in the oak as well as its bark. When the baron owning the manor forbade sacrificing at the oak it was done secretly by night. The sacred oak was also popular among the Lithuanians. It is believed that the manor was built on an ancient Semigallian hillfort. Not far from the oak there is an elevation of the bank called Ghosts’ Hill where the Semigallians had buried their fortune therefore ghosts frequent the place.
The Vadakste River is a border river between Latvia and Lithuania. The border runs along the river for a rather large distance of it starting from above Priedula and up to the place where the river falls into the Venta.
