Chestnut groves

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In the chestnut grove

The chestnut grove is a natural monument in Wernigerode in the Harz district .

It is located about 300 meters east of the pleasure garden below Wernigerode Castle . The chestnut grove is a plantation of sweet chestnuts (Castanea sativa) on an area of ​​around 1.7  hectares , which was created at the instigation of Count Christian Friedrich zu Stolberg-Wernigerode in 1790. At that time, the Count had eight-year-old chestnut trees planted on a desert piece of land, exposed to the east and north winds, on a moderate hill. From this initial phase you can still find around 100 trees that have grown stately in the meantime.

In 1811, 26  quintals of sweet chestnuts were harvested from this grove, which were not inferior to the large Italian chestnuts in size and sweetness of taste. However, the fruits have the disadvantage that they shrink quickly and therefore have to be eaten fresh.

Since the location evidently proved to be climatically favorable despite its northern slope, further plantings were carried out around 1816 and 1842 and later.

Count Henrich zu Stolberg-Wernigerode delivered chestnuts from Wernigerode to the Prussian Crown Prince's table several times.

The Wernigerode chestnut grove is the northernmost contiguous chestnut occurrence in Central Europe and is considered a dendrological treasure. Because of its tasty fruits (chestnuts), it enjoys a visit from numerous residents of the city every autumn.

literature

  • Jörg Brückner : How old is the chestnut grove? In: Neue Wernigeröder Zeitung 11/1996, p. 25.

Web links

Coordinates: 51 ° 50 ′ 12.9 "  N , 10 ° 48 ′ 23.1"  E