Dvortsovaya Sq., 1, Gatchina, Leningrad Region, Russia, 188307
The solitary oak was planted in the Silver Meadow during the time of Count Grigory Orlov. Apparently, it was several seedlings grafted into one tree – following the fashion of the 18th century. Therefore, even at a relatively young age, the Orlov oak looked large and mighty.
The Orlov oak survived all the events of the 18th-20th centuries, including the revolution, the Civil War, and the occupation of Gatchina during the Great Patriotic War. However, in the 1970s, the tree was struck by lightning, which split it. Nevertheless, half of the tree managed to stand firm, and the Orlov oak continues to delight visitors of Gatchina Park to this day.
Sources:
https://gatchinapalace.ru/park/attractions/Orlovskiy.php
