Barteliai Oak

Barteliai Oak is a natural heritage object growing near a cemetery in Barteliai Village. The oak is believed to be over a thousand years old. The hollow in the oak can accommodate 4 to 5 people and the same number of men is needed to hug its hefty trunk.

The Barteliai Oak played an important role during the Lithuanian press ban. Following the January Uprising in 1863, the Russian Empire banned the Lithuanian press. Thus, the people continued to illegally publish Lithuanian books, newspapers and calendars in Lithuania Minor. They would later be smuggled into other regions of Lithuania. The hollow of the Barteliai Oak was a cache that the book smugglers used to hide Lithuanian publications which would later be distributed to the local villagers and people in other settlements situated further away.