Have you heard about a story where people go to the wood and tell their secrets to the tree? In northern Germany there is an old oak tree where people put letters into its hole to share and change their stories to others. It might be the only one tree that has formal address in the world. The postman comes everyday to deliver letters and put it into the hole of the tree. The letters mostly about people seek partners or a gathering community. So it is a kind of a conventional dating site. People who visit the tree can freely read the letters and if they are interested to make a response they can take and keep the letter for themselves.
The tree is believed over 500 years old. It was begun in the late 19th century with a love story from the daughter of the head forester, Ohrt, and the son of a Leipzig chocolate maker, Schütte-Felsche. Unfortunately the father of the girl disapproved the relationship. So this young couple secretly exchanged letters by leaving them in the hole in the tree’s trunk. When the father finally gave in and granted his permission, they were married under the tree on 2 June 1891. Since then the tree has been named “The Bridegroom’s Oak”.
The tree is very famous for people in the hope of finding a love partner. At least five and reportedly more than a hundred marriages have been brought about by the Bridegroom’s Oak. So if you are interested to write letter and want to try your fortune, here is the address:
Bräutigamseiche
Dodauer Forst
23701 Eutin, Germany
P.S. Mind you that I took these photos in this spring. The leaves haven’t grown much. It should be nice to visit it in the summer or fall 
*Photos and story by: Syafa Haack