Ivenack Oaks

The Ivenack Oaks near Stavenhagen in Mecklenburg are among the mightiest oak trees in Europe and stand in Germany's first National Natural Monument. In the Ivenack deer park, an open wood-pasture landscape in the rolling Mecklenburg Switzerland region, gnarled English oaks several centuries old rise above grazing deer, rare-breed pigs and wild ponies. A 620-meter treetop walkway lets you climb up into the canopy. It is an unusual and rewarding stop for nature lovers on a road trip through northeastern Germany.

Why these oaks are special

The Ivenack Oaks are not remnants of a primeval forest but the result of centuries of wood pasture, a traditional way of grazing livestock under widely spaced trees. Slavic farmers grazed animals here about 1,000 years ago, nuns from a Cistercian convent did so around 1300, and in 1710 the area became an enclosed deer park. In 2016 it was declared Germany's first National Natural Monument. Local legend says the oaks are seven runaway nuns turned into trees.

Things to see

• The Great Oak, about 32 meters tall with a trunk girth of more than 11 meters and roughly 140 cubic meters of wood, described as one of the largest living English oaks in the world.
• The ancient oaks, often called "thousand-year-old," though experts estimate the oldest at about 750 to 850 years.
• The treetop walkway, opened in 2017, leading to a viewing platform about 40 meters up.
• The deer park animals, including fallow deer, Turopolje pigs and four Konik horses.
• A small exhibition in a Baroque pavilion and an orchard meadow.

Opening hours and tickets (as of October 2026)

• Season: April 1 to November 1, 2026; ticket desk open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Winter: the deer park stays open year-round, but the treetop walkway closes from November to March.
• Tickets: deer park only €7 for adults; deer park plus treetop walkway €12, reduced €10, children 6 to 17 €5, under 6 free.

How to get there

Ivenack lies in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in northeastern Germany, a few kilometers east of the small town of Stavenhagen. Driving is easiest, with free parking at the entrance. By public transport, take a regional train to Stavenhagen, then walk or cycle 3 to 4 kilometers; local bus 421 runs only occasionally. Prices are in euros.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, especially for families and anyone who loves trees. The treetop walkway is fully accessible with gentle slopes and an elevator, and most paths work for wheelchairs and strollers. Leashed dogs are welcome in the park but not on the walkway. Allow at least 1.5 to 2 hours, or make a relaxed half day of it with a stop at the forest café.