12 Sacred Groves & Mystical Forests Revered by Ancient Cultures
11. Białowieża Forest, Poland/Belarus: Europe's Primeval Heart & Leshy's Domain
One of Europe's last and largest remaining parts of the immense primeval forest that once stretched across the European Plain, Białowieża1 is a realm of ancient magic. For pre-Christian Slavic cultures, such deep forests were the domain of the Leshy, a powerful, often capricious forest spirit. Specific ancient oaks were venerated, and the forest itself was a living entity demanding respect. Its sheer primordial wildness, home to European bison, is an ingenious testament to nature's untamed power and a window into ancient animistic beliefs.
