Last updated: June 3, 2022

ANCIENT OLIVE TREE & MUSEUM

The Ancient Olive Tree & Museum is in Ano Vouves is located.

The village is in the region of Chania, in West Crete – 28 km from Chania, 24 km from Kissamos.

Vouves Olive Tree is one of the oldest olive trees in the world. The Olive Tree still produces olives today.

[swpm_protected format_protected_msg=”1″] GPS is very important! – because no street names in Western Crete.

GPS: 35.486603, 23.786458 [/swpm_protected]

The exact age of the tree cannot be determined, as the heartwood has been lost over the centuries: the inside is completely empty.

The olive tree age

Radioisotope examination: it is not possible, since the heartwood is not there.

Frost ring analysis: at least 2000 years old.

Scientists at the University of Crete: estimated age: 4000 years.

Based on excavations near the unique olive tree: at least 3000 years old.

The excavations [swpm_protected format_protected_msg=”1″] revealed two cemeteries from the Geometric Period.

1100 – 800 BC – The historical Geometric Period

900 – 700 BC – The art historical Geometric Period – it is a stage in Greek art that is characterized by the geometric motifs of vase painting ranging.

The center was in Athens, and from there the style spread among the commercial cities of the Aegean Sea. [/swpm_protected]

1997 – declared a protected natural monument

[swpm_protected format_protected_msg=”1″] To determine the age of olive trees, there is no exact method.

The olive tree Vouves may be slightly younger than the ancient tree of Finix (Sfakia).

The tree still bears fruit every year. Its fruit is the oldest Cretan olive variety: Tsounati. [/swpm_protected]

Olive tree dimensions:

– width of the root: 4.53 m

– width of the tree trunk: 3.7 m

– width of the crown: 10.3 m

– height: 6.5 m

The branches from the unique olive tree: they are solemnly cut every year: from this, wreaths are made for the winners of the marathons.

At the Athens 2004 Olympic Games and the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, from this olive tree: wreaths are made for the winners.

John Malandrakis, the mayor of Platanias, sent an Olympic wreath in 2012 for the opening ceremony of the London Olympics. It was a symbol of peace, hope, and brotherhood.

The olive branches, carried on an ancient ship, from Crete to Athens.

[swpm_protected format_protected_msg=”1″] The museum presents tools, what needed primarily for olive production and harvesting. But we can also learn about the tools needed to make olive oil.

The tools on display at the Vouves Olive Tree Museum, were in daily use until the middle of the previous century (mid-1950s).

People have used these tools, for many centuries or even millennia.

Modernization has pushed these tools into the background. Today, olive pressing is done, with modern and more efficient presses.

In the Kolymbari region, olive oil production dates back hundreds of years. They produce a famous, award-winning olive oil, which is one of the best quality olive oils in the world. [/swpm_protected]