Eutin, Germany offers a unique tradition that blends romance and nature. In the Dodau Forest near Eutin, the Bridegroom’s Oak, known locally as “Bräutigamseiche,” stands as a storied connection point for lovers. This centuries-old oak has served as a romantic mailbox for over a hundred years.
The oak’s famous knothole has been receiving love letters since 1892. Mail carriers from the German postal service diligently deliver 50 to 60 letters each month to this natural mailbox, often requiring the use of a ladder to reach it. The tree, towering at 25 meters (82 feet), is more than 500 years old, and its particular charm is enriched by its postal code.
A tree with its own postal service is a unique concept, inviting lovers worldwide to communicate through its age-worn knothole.
Visitors may scan these letters, some arriving from foreign continents, and have the opportunity to become pen pals with any letter-writer. The postal service notes that some of these exchanges have led to marriages.
The tradition began with a forester’s daughter and a chocolate manufacturer from Leipzig who exchanged love letters via the tree’s knothole. Initially facing resistance from the forester, the pair eventually won approval and married under the oak’s branches in 1892.
If you wish to participate in this heartfelt correspondence, send your letter to: Bräutigamseiche, Dodauer Forst, 23701 Eutin, Germany.
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