Dub v Kunovicích

The Kunovice Oak is a protected memorial oak tree growing on the grounds of the former Kunovice-Loučka railway station, in the small village of Kunovice in the Vsetín District, part of the Zlín Region in Moravia, Czech Republic. Kunovice itself is not a major tourist destination, but the tree makes for an interesting stop for anyone travelling through the Wallachia (Valašsko) region or exploring the area around Vsetín.

How to get there?

Kunovice lies in the Vsetín District, in the hilly, forested part of Moravia known as Wallachia, an area popular for hiking trails and quiet countryside scenery. The village itself is small, and the oak grows within the grounds of the former Kunovice-Loučka railway station, standing among a group of other trees close to the tracks. It is an easy stop for anyone travelling by regional train — the tree is visible almost as soon as you step off the platform. The nearest larger town is Vsetín, a short drive or train ride away.

What will you see?

The main draw here is the tree itself: an impressive summer oak with a trunk circumference of around 270 centimetres and a height of roughly 20 metres. Its estimated age is about 100 years, making it one of the more substantial specimens of its species in the Vsetín District. The oak is listed in the register of memorial trees maintained by the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic (AOPK ČR) under registration number 100049, meaning it carries formal legal protection as a natural and landscape asset.

The tree grows in a small cluster with other trees on the station grounds, creating an unusual, almost picturesque contrast: a massive, century-old oak standing right next to railway infrastructure. Protected trees like this, surviving despite the surrounding development, are common reminders in the Czech countryside of an older agricultural landscape that predates the railway lines and stations built around them. The Kunovice oak is a living piece of that history — it likely stood here before the station was built, with the tracks and buildings laid out around it rather than the other way round.

For nature lovers and photographers, the tree is a rewarding subject, especially in autumn, when its crown turns characteristic shades of brown and gold. Because of its location right by the station, it can be visited at almost any time of day, without needing to plan a lengthy hike.

Regional context

The Vsetín District is known for numerous protected trees — old oaks, lindens, and other centuries-old specimens scattered across the villages and small towns of Wallachia. The Kunovice oak is one of many entries in the local register, alongside trees in neighbouring villages. This is a region where the protection of old-growth trees ties closely to a broader cultural landscape of fields, orchards, and villages spread across the hills of the Moravian-Silesian Beskids and the Javorníky range.

For travellers exploring the wider region, the Kunovice oak makes a small but worthwhile addition to a trip that includes Vsetín or hikes in the Beskids — a modest yet notable piece of local natural heritage.

Frequently asked questions

Is the oak open to the public? Yes, it stands on the grounds of a public railway station, freely accessible with no entrance fees or restrictions.

How old is the tree? Its estimated age is around 100 years.

How large is it? The trunk circumference is about 270 cm, and it stands roughly 20 metres tall.

Is it worth a dedicated trip? It works better as an interesting stop during a regional train journey or a visit to the Vsetín District rather than as a standalone destination.

Is the tree legally protected? Yes, it is registered as a memorial tree in the AOPK ČR database under number 100049.