A towering 250 year old okabe tree near Betnava Castle enchants visitors with its massive trunk, lofty height and rich history, earning its title as Maribor's ''Miss Tree''.
Nestled in the peaceful Betnava Forest, a place home to many beautiful trees, one stands out above the rest. Despite the forest's abundance of majestic green giants, only one has earned the prestigious title of "Miss Tree." This majestic sycamore tree, a stunning London place (Platanus × hispanica), isn't just another giant tree in the park - it's local legend with a title to prove it! Crowned ''Miss Tree'' of Maribor by a panel of arborist experts, this 250 year old marvel stands as testament to time, beauty and resilience.
Towering at 40 meters (roughly as tall as a 13-story building!) and with a trunk circumference of 785 cm, it's the second thickest sycamore in Slovenia. Imagine the secrets it has witnessed through the centuries: noble gatherings, quiet lovers' strolls and generations of park-goers marveling at its grandeur. The tree residents in what was once the elegant Betnava Castle Park, designed in the 19th century in the charming English landscape style, complete with canals, wooden bridges and paths for wandering dreamily through nature.
But today, the park is a bit forgotten, left without the care it once had when the castle was thriving. Still, this mighty tree holds its ground, capturing the hearts of locals and visitors alike. With its ''Miss Tree'' title, the hope is clear: someone will step up to restore the park and honor its natural and historical treasures.
The Betnava sycamore isn't just a tree, it's another leafy monument to Maribor's heritage, a giant rooted in the past while inspiring the present.