Eye Trees

In Troldeskoven in Rold Skov, you can find the special eye trees – old beech trees whose trunks have grown together and formed openings that look like eyes.

Eye trees are formed when beech trunks grow closely together over time. In Troldeskoven, many of the beech trees have several trunks growing from the same root, because new shoots grow from the stump and root when the trees are cut down. This gives the forest its distinctive, almost fairytale-like appearance.

Old beeches with stories

The oldest beech trees in Troldeskoven are more than 300 years old. Their twisted trunks and unusual shapes have inspired stories and folklore through the years.

According to old superstition, crawling through an eye tree could protect against rickets, also known as vitamin D deficiency. In 1952, Queen Margrethe and her sisters were led through an eye tree in Troldeskoven as children. The tree later became known as the Princess Tree, but it fell during the summer storm on 23 July 1994.

Find the eye trees

You can experience the eye trees on a walk through Troldeskoven. The Rebild Bakker Trail also takes you through the area – follow the white arrows and look out for the special trees along the way.