Vouves | SeaByBus

The Olive Tree of Vouves is one of the oldest olive trees in the world — and remarkably, it still produces olives to this day. Although its exact age cannot be definitively confirmed, tree ring analysis confirms it to be at least 2,000 years old, while some researchers from the University of Crete estimate it to be closer to 4,000 years.

In 1997, the tree was declared a protected natural monument, and in 2009, the Olive Tree Museum of Vouves was established nearby, housed in a 19th-century building. The museum showcases traditional tools and techniques used in olive cultivation throughout the centuries. Since the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, branches (kotinos) from this very tree have been used to create victory wreaths for the Marathon winners in every Olympic Games, linking ancient heritage with modern tradition.

Today, the Olive Tree of Vouves welcomes more than 20,000 visitors annually from around the world — all coming to admire its gnarled beauty and historical legacy.

Highlights

                                Visit the Olive Tree Museum of Vouves, showcasing tools and techniques from traditional olive cultivation.

                            

                                Explore a restored traditional olive oil mill and see how olive oil was once produced in Crete.

                            

                                Learn about the history and process of olive cultivation, from harvest to oil production.

                            

                                Discover the Olympic connection — the tree’s branches are used for Marathon victory wreaths in the modern Olympic Games.

                            

                                Capture stunning photos of the tree’s twisted, sculptural trunk — a natural artwork shaped by time.

                            

                                Enjoy an authentic “elliniko kafe” (Greek coffee) in a traditional village kafenion, just steps from the ancient tree.
                            