Die Platane auf der schweizerischen Île de Peilz und der griechische Geroplatanos gehören nicht nur zur selben Art, sondern stehen beide mit den Füßen im kühlen Nass: Die eine taucht ihre Wurzeln in den Genfersee, die andere nährt sich seit Jahrhunderten vom Quellwasser, das neben ihrem Stamm aus der Erde sprudelt. Beide Bäume haben eine wichtige kulturelle Bedeutung für die lokale Bevölkerung.
These two trees are essentially brothers, but what sets them apart is the astonishing environment in which they have developed and grown.
The Plane tree of Peilz lords over a tiny 40m2 island on Lake Geneva. Like a vegetal lighthouse, it serves as a beacon for fishermen and locals, and as a refuge for a colony of cormorants. With each new season, the plane tree’s branches undergo spectacular change. Two legends surround the tree, which is said to be the sole survivor of three plane trees planted in 1851. One dates from the mid 19th century, when a young English couple, who were betrothed to be married, were staying at Hotel Byron, near Chillon Castle. The other claims that the island was given as a present to Queen Victoria by the Swiss Federal Council, during one of her stays in the region.
Its Greek associate in Geroplatanos has been basking in the sun for nearly 1,000 years, in South Thessalonica. This truly gigantic tree has a trunk that measures 15.51 metres in circumference, and its vast branches, spanning a width of 30 metres, shade the small square on which it seems to be strangely installed. As though it were sunken into the ground. The tree’s roots are fed by a constant source of clean water, which is said to share the same age as the tree! Located in the centre of the village, it is a favourite meeting place for gossip and festive gatherings. In May, the village community, preceded by the pope, come to pay homage to the tree.
Le platane de l’île de Peilz, en Suisse, et le Geroplatanos, qui a donné son nom à un village du nord de la Grèce, grandissent tous deux les pieds dans l’eau.
Il platano dell'Isola di Peilz in Svizzera e quello di Geroplatanos in Grecia affondano entrambi le radici nell'acqua, uno nel profondo lago Lemano, l'altro in una sorgente che gli scorre immediatamente sotto.
Gamla träd fyller oss med vördnad. Tänk om de kunde berätta, säger vi. Då skulle vi få höra om kungar som vilat under lövverket och skalder som diktat i skuggan. Här får de vördnadsbjudande träden hjälp att berätta sin historia.
