Die beiden tausendjährigen Eiben im französischen La Haye de Routot und der „Nagelbaum“ im belgischen Herchies haben seit langer Zeit eine spirituelle Bedeutung. Sie zeugen von jahrhundertealten Traditionen und wurden im Laufe der Zeit mit den unterschiedlichsten Symboliken belegt.
Despite their obvious differences, what characterises and links these two trees most is the human attachment to them. Friars live beside the Italian Cypress tree, perpetuating the legend linked to it and to Saint Francis of Assisi. For the Upmeyer Oak, which bears the name of its benefactors, the same family has been looking after it down through the generations.
For generations, the tree has been linked to the same family, of which it is their symbol. It is known as the “Upmeyers Oak”. Thanks to a hole in its trunk, its age has been evaluated at roughly 500 years. Its isolated location and its very robust health (despite some scars left by lightening) make it one of the most beautiful trees in Germany, and certainly one of the most well known in Lower Saxony. The 3 generations of Upmeyers: Wolfgang (50 years old), the owner of the farm, his father Gustav (83 years old) and Wolfgang’s son Mathias (24 years old) each have memories linked to the tree, and claim they would be prepared to do anything to keep it in good condition.
The 700-year old Cypress tree can be found among the cloisters of the Villa Verucchio Monastery, built in honour of Saint Francis. Legend has it that, during a walk, Saint Francis, saw his clothes hanging on a branch of the Cypress tree, which he had used as a stick. He is said to have tried to burn the branch in vain, and then planted it in the ground, saying: “If you won’t burn, grow!”. Since the year 2000, the tree is in an upright position once again, thanks to three metal pillars supporting the old Patriarch’s weight. The tree features a “rust belt”, a metal tie that was fixed to it in 1800 to support the various branches, after Napoleon’s soldiers tried to burn it. Saint Francis allegedly stopped at the foot of Verucchio, where a small hermitage was located, and carried out miracles there, before founding the monastery, which is still occupied by friars today.
Les deux ifs millénaires de La Haye-de-Routot, en France, tout comme le "chêne à clous" de Herchies, en Belgique, sont porteurs d’une spiritualité à l’origine lointaine.
I due tassi de La Haye de Routot in Francia e la quercia di Herchies in Belgio sono da secoli al centro di rituali e tradizioni antichissime, cresciuti insieme alle favole e ai racconti del folklore locale.
En 700 år gammal cypress i ett italienskt kloster. En femhundraårig ek på en gård i Tyskland. Två träd med varsin mänsklig koppling. Den helige Franciscus ska ha planterat cypressen. Familjen Upmeyer i Niedersachsen har vårdat eken i generationer.
