Giant beech near Altmugl

The remains of the giant beech

The still living giant beech

The giant beech was an impressive specimen of the common beech ( Fagus sylvatica ) that stood in northern Bavaria and was felled in 1999. The remaining tree stump is near the hamlet of Altmugl, a district of the Bad Neualbenreuth market in the Tirschenreuth district .

The approximately four meter high stump still gives an impression of how mighty this red beech once was. It was 35 meters high and had a trunk circumference of 7.7 meters. Their estimated age was 300 years. The tree-surgically treated trunk had been hollow for decades.

In 1999 the beech was felled by specialists because there was a risk that branches could break off or even their trunk could break apart. The tree was right next to a road.

The clearly indented trunk suggests that the giant beech is a so-called tufted beech , a former planting of several young beeches in one planting hole, mostly for the short-term acquisition of firewood. Such seedlings grow together over the years to a tree , which later impresses with its large size.

Giant beech near Altmugl

See also