Bridegroom's Oak
The Bridegroom's Oak () is an oak tree in the Dodauer Forst, a forest near Eutin in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is a registered natural monument, and a hole high in the trunk, reached by a ladder, functions as a dead drop or public letter box for people seeking love partners, and has a postal address. Location and description The tree is near a forest road that branches off Bundesstraße 76 shortly after leaving Eutin in the direction of Plön, which is marked with a sign. The address is: Bräutigamseiche, Dodauer Forst, 23701 Eutin, Germany. The tree is over 500 years old. It has a trunk circumference of , a spread of , and a height of . The tree is surrounded by a wooden fence except for a path leading to the ladder which gives access to the hole in the trunk; the hole is approximately off the ground and 30 cm (1 ft) wide. Since the mid-1990s, the crown has been roped to prevent its collapsing. In 2014 a fungal infection (Laetiporus sulphureus) was detected in the trunk and branches; branches have been shortened to reduce wear and the cabling renewed. Legends and traditions There is a legend that