France's most ancient oak tree and its two chapels face potential collapse

An 1,200-year-old oak tree, the oldest oak tree in France and home to two chapels inside of its hollow trunk, needs urgent work to protect and preserve it. 

The Chêne d’Allouville, located in Seine-Maritime, Normandy, is hollow on the inside as a result of a lightning storm and has gradually grown more fragile due to repeated rain damage and storms, with some of its branches held up by crutches.

The story goes that in the 17th century, father Du Cerceau from the nearby church wanted to see how many children could fit in the hollow trunk – 40 apparently managed to enter the trunk simultaneously – and thus the idea of constructing a chapel was born. 

The construction of the chapels took place in 1696. The first one is located on the bottom floor and was built to honour Notre Dame de la Paix (Mother Mary). 

Read more: Maison de Jeanne: The French house with a 550-year history

Hermit chapel

A staircase on the outside of the tree then leads visitors up to the second chapel, named La Chapelle de l’Ermite. This was originally built as a room for a hermit to live in, hence the name. 

These chapels are free to visit and attract around 30,000 visitors per year, even gaining international recognition with tourists from all over the world. 

“It is a part of both natural heritage, with the age and beauty of the tree, and construction heritage, with its two little chapels,” Pierre Loue, 69, departmental delegate of the Fondation du Patrimoine (heritage foundation) of the Seine-Maritime department, told The Connexion. 

The chapels and trunk are covered with oak shingles from a previous renovation to protect them and to stop rainfall entering the trunk, but over time, these have degraded and water damage has become a significant problem. 

There are worries that the tree itself will begin to rot and that the chapels may collapse. The entire floor of the upper chapel must be redone, thicker water protection must be installed thanks to silicone coating and dead wood must be purged. 

Call for donations

The total cost of works has been estimated at €24,000 although it could vary when the work actually starts. 

The call for donations began in late September and, at the time of writing, more than €11,000 had been raised. “The spontaneity and speed of the response has been exceptional.” 

“The foundation has done around 20 collections per year for 25 years, and we have never seen such an enthusiastic reaction, it is amazing,” said Mr Loue. 

“There is a very strong attachment to the oak tree from the local community and we will do everything we can to help the tree survive.” 

1,200 years is a very long time for an oak tree to survive, which typically last around a thousand years. “It is almost certain the continued care and attention given to it by the local population has enabled its long life, and it deserves even more care and attention now.” 

“Surprisingly, though a lot of branches and the tree itself is hollow, it continues to bear fruits. Last week, I witnessed many acorns on the oak tree,” he said.

Read more: This Normandy village is home to a 1,200 year old oak tree

Its age is estimated on its circumference, with an oak tree growing around one metre in circumference per 100 years. With its 12-metre circumference, it is believed to be 1,200 years old, at the time of Charlemagne, although some estimate it to be closer to 800 years old. 

The tree was also the topic of a film, aptly named Le Chêne d’Alouville, a comedy released in 1981. “I remember watching it when it came out but it is probably due for a rewatch,” said Mr Loue. 

The oldest tree of any kind in France is an olive tree located in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, which is thought to be 2,000 years old.