Nature in as a whole tends to be a profoundly beautiful thing, but there are few things more magical than finding yourself under a canopy of trees in a tree tunnel on some warm summer evening. Whether they’re formed naturally, accidentally, or with a little help from some patient and talented gardeners, these tree tunnels are sure to enchant anyone lucky enough to walk below their verdant boughs.

The beautiful forms of many of these tree tunnels and the ways in which we’ve copied them goes to show just how much we’ve borrowed from nature. I’m sure that magical spaces like these inspired more than one historical architect to design the gorgeous vaulted ceiling of a gothic cathedral or the arches of some other grand structure. Many ancient societies considered trees to be sacred and maintained holy groves of old trees, and with places this beautiful, it’s not hard to understand why.

Despite how slowly trees grow, they are remarkably receptive to various methods of altering their growth. With strong, persistent and very patient force, trees can be sculpted into a variety of forms. Some of these tree tunnels have been formed and sculpted by careful gardeners to ensure that they conform with their urban surroundings.

A few of the tree tunnels are happy coincidences. The Tunnel of Love in Ukraine, a popular photo spot for married couples, is also part of an operational railway system. The married couples have to schedule their photoshoots behind the times when freight trains are scheduled to pass through. Even unintentionally, these tree tunnels can work their magic on us.

1. The Dark Hedges in Northern Ireland

Image credits: Stephen Emerson

Image credits: Christopher Tait

2. Street in Bonn, Germany

Image credits: Adas Meliauskas

3. Wisteria Flower Tunnel in Japan

Image credits: mindphoto.blog.fc2.com

Image credits: imgur.com

4. Oak Alley along the Mississippi River outside New Orleans, Louisiana

Image credits: Exploring Light Photography

5. Jacarandas Walk in South Africa

Image credits: imgur.com

6. Tunnel of Love in Ukraine

Image credits: Oleg Gordienko

Image credits: amoschapple

7. Street in Jerez, Spain

Image credits: Aidan McRae Thomson

8. Ginkgo Tree Tunnel in Japan

Image credits: mrhayata

9. Blossom Path (Location Unknown)

Image credits: 91zhuti.com

10. Bamboo Path in Kyoto, Japan

Image credits: Yuya Horikawa

11. Maple Tunnel in St. Louis, Oregon, U.S.A.

Image credits: Ian Sane

12. Sakura Tunnel, Japan

Image credits: okera japan

13. Tree Tunnel in Netherlands

Image credits: Lars van de Goor

14. Location Unknown

Image credits: pawel uchorczak

15. Laburnum Tunnel in Bodnant Gardens, UK

Image credits: Tony Shertila

16. Parque Francisco Alvarado in Costa Rica

Image credits: Vytautas Šėrys

17. The Path Up To the Halnaker Windmill in Sussex

Image credits: Sam Moore

18. Cypress Tree Tunnel At The Historic Marconi Wireless Station, California

Image credits: Michael Brandt

19. Gyeonghwa Station in Jinhae, South Korea

Image credits: Aaron Choi

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