🌿 Yes, it’s real. Over 3,000 years old, still bearing fruit, and waiting for you to visit.
Hidden in the quiet village of Ano Vouves, near Kolymbari in Chania, Crete, stands something truly extraordinary — the world’s oldest olive tree, a living legend that has stood the test of time, war, empires, and centuries of human history.
🫒 A Tree as Old as Civilization
Estimated to be 3,000 to even 5,000 years old, the Ancient Olive Tree of Vouves is not just a botanical wonder — it’s a symbol of resilience and peace. Its massive trunk, with twisted, sculptural lines, looks more like art than nature. You’ll be tempted to walk around it again and again just to take in every natural curve and hollow.
Scientists believe its roots stretch back to the Minoan or Geometric periods, and it has been officially declared a Natural Monument of Exceptional Importance.
🌳 Still Producing Olives After Millennia
Despite its ancient age, this olive tree is very much alive and fruitful. It continues to produce olives of excellent quality, thanks to a traditional grafting technique: the native “Tsounati” variety was grafted onto a wild olive tree, creating the mesmerizing spiral effect on its trunk.
Fun fact? Branches from this tree were used to crown Olympic champions at the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Olympic Games!
🏛 Visit the Olive Tree Museum
Right next to the tree, you’ll find the charming Olive Tree Museum of Vouves — a small but fascinating space with ancient tools, exhibits on olive oil production, and the deep connection between Cretan culture and the olive tree.
📸 Why You Should Visit
🌅 Unmissable photo opportunity – the morning or golden hour light makes the trunk glow.
🤯 Stand next to one of the oldest living things on Earth
🕊 Feel a deep sense of history and peace
🧭 How to Get There
Ano Vouves is about 30–35 minutes west of Chania by car. There’s free parking near the site, and you’ll find a small café and local products for sale in the area.
✨ Final Tip
If you’re visiting Crete and want to experience something truly timeless, don’t skip the Ancient Olive Tree of Vouves. It’s not just a tree — it’s a silent witness of 100 generations, still alive, still growing, still telling stories through its branches.