“Seventy-nine oak trees” someone once counted. We are standing in Dubová alej. This is not that Dubová alej. But let’s imagine we are in the one near Vrchlabí. It is a place of daily hustle and bustle. People stroll here. Dog walkers walk their dogs. Children swing on a suspended swing. Wayfarers rest on two wooden benches.
Dubová alej was planted about 180 years ago. It stands on the edge of Harty, today Vrchlabí 3 Podhůří. In 2009 it was declared a protected tree monument. It goes by the name Dubová alej u Zámečku na Podhůří.
The planting of Dubová alej probably coincided. It coincided with the reconstruction of the nearby castle. The castle was rebuilt into a romantic form. This happened during the ownership of the Krönig family.
From Dubová alej a walking route leads. It goes to the forest ponds. These ponds feature wooden statues. They depict water sprites dragons and goblins.
Perpendicular to it are alleys of fruit trees. These are Přátelská alej and Škoda alej. They lead to the Ovčák hill that is also called Hůrka. Every year pupils from Vrchlabí’s elementary schools run through here. This is part of the Hartecká alej race. In June it was 22 years since the first summer race. Before that people ran in the autumn. It was called the Red Law Run.
Or let’s imagine we are standing in the Dubová alej in Hodkovičky in Prague 4. It is also called Stromořadí dubů letních v Hodkovičkách. This Dubová alej consists of twelve oak trees. They are located in Prague 4 in the Zátisí locality. The oaks grow as a single-row avenue along V Lučinách street. This is on its south side.
These trees have been protected since September 25 2009. The estimated age is around 140 years as of 2016. The avenue of oaks starts at the intersection of V Lučinách and Na Dlouhé mezi streets. It extends approximately 200 meters westward. The tree trunks range from 258 to 403 centimeters in circumference. The tops of their crowns reach heights of 18 to 32 meters. The first oak on the eastern side has a straight trunk. It has a spreading crown. It grows near the intersection of V Lučinách and Na Dlouhé mezi streets. It stands opposite the former U Zlatého bažanta restaurant. The surrounding area is covered in asphalt. The last oak on the western side grows in a grassy strip. It has a richly branched crown. The health of all the oaks is very good.
Hans Kropf planted the avenue around 1880. He had the Villa Lalotta built in Hodkovičky. It resembled a summer chateau. A marked tourist trail passes by the oaks. Trail 3129 leads from Malá Chuchle via Braník Lhotka and Točná to the Hálkov monument.
Or maybe we are standing in the Dubová alej. It was planted with the construction of the building. It was originally for the State Agricultural Research Institute. Today it is the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry. That was in 1929. It is part of the so-called green belt. This leads from Stromovka around today’s ÚOCHB building to Ořechovka. It goes further to the Letná Plain. World-renowned figures came to this ÚOCHB building via this avenue. For example the brilliant chemist Antonín Holý. Even German Chancellor Angela Merkel.