The Matthias tree in Bajmóc

In front of the entrance to the Bajmoc Castle stands the remains of the vast, ancient linden tree, which, according to legend, was planted by Máté Csák in 1301. According to tradition, the parliament was held under it, at which Queen Mary (daughter of Louis the Great) abdicated the throne in favor of her husband Sigismund. Its extensive canopy of leaves cast a cool shadow over the lavish banquets of King Matthias, as well as over István Bocskai, who, as king-elect, held a parliament under it. And finally, the great prince, Ferenc II Rákóczi, also liked the company of this tree, closing his letters thus: "Datum sub tilia nostra Bajmocensi" (Grew up under our Bajmoc linden tree). ; We know its former dimensions from the statement of Bálint Lengyel (1897), according to which its height at that time was "20 m 85 cm from the ground surface. The circumference of the trunk 20 cm above the ground was 8 m 40 cm, and 60 cm above the ground was 7 m 26 cm". According to the official descriptions, the circumference of the trunk stump in 1997 was 12.5 meters. ; Today, we can only admire its approximately four-meter-high truncated trunk and its two voluminous shoots that developed from its trunk stump. ; Its hollow stump has been supported in several places to prevent it from falling over, some of its cavities have been filled in as necessary, and the top of the trunk stump has been provided with a roof to protect it from precipitation.