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Germany
Rhineland-Palatinate
Palatinate Forest
Landkreis Bad Dürkheim
Herxheim am Berg

Napoleon's Willow Natural Monument

Discover
Places to see

Natural Monuments

Germany
Rhineland-Palatinate
Palatinate Forest
Landkreis Bad Dürkheim
Herxheim am Berg

Napoleon's Willow Natural Monument

Highlight • Natural Monument

Napoleon's Willow Natural Monument

Recommended by 67 hikers out of 74

This Highlight is in a protected area

Please check local regulations for: Felsenberg-Berntal

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    Location: Herxheim am Berg, Landkreis Bad Dürkheim, Palatinate Forest, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

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    2. Berntal Valley Trails – View of Herxheim am Berg loop from Leistadt

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    3. Bänkeltour Weisenheim am Berg – Berntal Valley Trails loop from Herxheim am Berg

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    Tips

    October 12, 2021

    Very close to the German Wine Route (B 271 between Herxheim and Kallstadt), this is a silver willow from 1740 with a very eventful life and an irrepressible will to live.
    This eventful history can be read very nicely on the information board (with great photos!). Brief summary (partially taken verbatim) as follows:

    The name of the silver pasture came about after 1794, when Emperor Napoleon's French troops passed the pasture several times on what was then the "Landstrasse" (today's Weinstrasse) while they occupied Herxheim am Berg until the Bavarian takeover in 1816. According to oral tradition, Emperor Napoleon is said to have even taken a small break with vespers under the willow.

    In 1992, however, the willow met a tragic fate, because the willow tree, which was privately owned by the Herxheim winegrower family Kalsch, was improperly cut down to the stump by employees of the Grünstadt road maintenance department. The owner of the tree filed a criminal complaint; a long court case followed.

    And it got even worse: Immediately after felling, the sawn-off tree stump caught fire, probably from a discarded cigarette, and was severely damaged again. Only through the courageous intervention of the owner (with 2 tons of extinguishing water) could the final death of the pasture be prevented.

    And the good news: the following year, 1993, the charred tree stump miraculously sprouted again and then recovered.
    After land consolidation, this natural monument, which is more than 280 years old, now belongs to the municipality of Herxheim am Berg - and has once again reached a very impressive height and size!

    Translated by Google •

      March 5, 2022

      Year of construction 1740, respectable age and deservedly a monument! Unfortunately located directly on the partially busy road. There used to be a swamp here.

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        January 13, 2024

        Not quite as impressive in winter...

        Translated by Google •

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          Details

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          Elevation 170 m

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          Location: Herxheim am Berg, Landkreis Bad Dürkheim, Palatinate Forest, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

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