- Place
- Kriaunai eldership, Rokiškis District Municipality
- Region
- Sartai Regional Park
- Type
- a state-protected common oak in Sartai Regional Park
- Address
- Bradesiai village, Kriaunai eldership, Rokiškis District (private land)
- Coordinates
- 55.83161, 25.87747
- Visit duration
- 20-30 minutes; longer if combined with a Lake Sartai and regional-park route
- Best time
- spring to autumn; visit in daylight and do not cross the protective fence
Bradesiai Oak natural monument, Brother of Stelmužė Oak
An old tree in Sartai Regional Park
Bradesiai Oak grows in the southern part of Bradesiai village, east of the end of Lake Sartai's eastern branch, the Bradesa. It is a state-protected botanical natural-heritage object and natural monument in the landscape of Sartai Regional Park.
The tree grows on private land, so this page is not an invitation to walk freely across the property. The coordinate 55.83161, 25.87747 marks the tree; respect the boundary, protective fence, and any instructions in force when you arrive.
Trunk measurements and a long life
This is a common oak (Quercus robur). VLE gives an age of 500-700 years, a height of 29 metres, and a trunk circumference of 6.12 metres at 1.3 metres above the ground. Saugoma.lt gives more than 500 years, 30.7 metres, and 6.45 metres, so figures can differ slightly between sources and measurement dates.
For a tree of this age, more than size matters: the soil around its roots, the condition of its branches, the moisture regime, and visitor behaviour all affect its protection. Appreciate the oak's scale from the permitted area and avoid compacting soil beside the trunk.
The memory of Tilteliamiškis
VLE and the Aukštaitija Protected Areas Directorate's route description say that a larger oak grove once grew between Bradesiai Hillfort and Lake Sartai, known as Tilteliamiškis or Tiltalemiškis. Its memory now survives through the remaining Bradesiai oaks and stories about a mythological bridge that once stood nearby.
A Baltic-faith altar is mentioned beside the oak, and the local description tells of festivals and ceremonies held here. Treat this cultural layer as local memory and tradition, not as an archaeological conclusion about the entire former oak grove.
How to visit a tree on private land
Saugoma.lt says the oak is adapted for visits and easy to reach, while VLE clearly notes that it grows on private land. Stop only where access is allowed, do not cross the fence, do not touch protective structures, and do not drive onto the property without the owner's permission.
You do not need a long hike for this stop: it is enough to take in the trunk's scale, the crown, and the surroundings from the permitted place. Branches can be fragile and an old tree is sensitive to compacted soil; do not jump over roots, hang objects, or light fires.
Bradesiai Oak on a Sartai route
The oak pairs naturally with Lake Sartai, Sartai Regional Park Visitor Centre, the observation tower, and Velikuškiai Hillfort. One trip can then include a lake landscape, cultural heritage, and an exceptional tree without turning private land into a shortcut between attractions.
Arrive in daylight and dry weather, and decide in advance where you can stop safely. If no clear public access is available on site, choose another park attraction or contact the area managers; a protected tree deserves respect beyond the photograph.
