Schmorsdorf lime tree
The Schmorsdorf lime tree (German: Schmorsdorfer Linde) is a natural monument located in the center of Schmorsdorf, Müglitztal, in the Saxony district of Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge, Germany. This large-leaved linden (Tilia platyphyllos) is estimated to be 400 to 800 years old. The circumference of its trunk is about 11 meters, and it stands at a height of around 24 meters. The tree gained historical significance during the Thirty Years' War and was first mentioned in writing around 1630 due to its impressive size. Notably, the renowned pianist and composer Clara Schumann visited the Linden Tree multiple times between 1836 and 1849. In her honor, the Linden Museum, which opened next to the tree in 2006, was named after her and remains the only museum of its kind in Germany. The Schmorsdorf lime tree has been recognized by the Deutsche Baumarchiv (German Tree Archive) as a "National Bedeutsamen Bäumen (NBB)" (Nationally Significant Tree), with its trunk circumference serving as the primary selection criterion for this distinction.
Location
The lime tree stands at the center of the small village of Schmorsdorf near Maxen, which was originally designed as a loosely arranged circular settlement.
History
The lime tree's impressive size and shape were first mentioned in official records around 1630 during the events of the Thirty Years' War, as passing troops took note of it.[3][4] It stands along a historically significant road that once served as an important connection to Dresden, frequently used by troops during the Seven Years' War and by Napoleonic soldiers in the early 19th century.[4] Schmorsdorf gained prominence during the Seven Years' War at the Battle of Maxen, where Austrian field marshal and general Leopold Joseph von Daun captured Friedrich August von Finck on November 21, 1759. The Maxen castle of Prussian major Johann Friedrich Anton von Serre, which he acquired in 1819, was a preferred gathering place for artists from all over the world who stayed with his wife Friederike Serre in the 19th century.[5] The renowned pianist and composer Clara Schumann (née Wieck), along with her husband Robert Schumann, stayed at Maxen Castle on several occasions between 1836 and 1849. During her time there, Clara Schumann frequently took walks around Maxen, including nighttime excursions to the Schmorsdorfer lime tree. In her diary, she wrote that a woman was said to walk around there at night.[6]
On August 9, 1873, a fire broke out in a manor house in the village, which quickly spread to neighboring houses due to strong winds. It was later discovered that the fire was deliberately set by a young boy. The lime tree also suffered damage in this fire, although there were no reported casualties, some cattle perished. On January 21, 1884, during a storm, several large branches broke off from the weakened Linden tree, which had been previously affected by the fire.
"It is an ancient gray lime tree that distinguishes itself from the peculiar trees in Germany. Located south of the Elbe Valley, between Dresden and Saxon Switzerland, near the border of the Ore Mountains, lie the villages of Schmorsdorf and Maxen. These villages are famous for the Battle of Maxen, a significant event during the Seven Years' War, where Austrian Field Marshal Daun captured Prussian General Fink on September 21, 1759. A hill between the two villages is still known as 'Finkenfang'. This region holds historical importance and is marked by remnants of the former Wendish settlement of the "Sorbenwenden". Some linguists suggest that the name Schmorsdorf itself is derived from the Wendish word smorden meaning 'thresher'. Near Schmorsdorf, there is a lime tree, which stands out because of its peculiar shape. While its exact age is unknown, it can be traced back to the Wendish period. Its growth is astonishing, with the main trunk, measuring 9 meters in circumference at its thinnest point, rising 5 meters above the ground and then dividing into a series of branches, that extend up to 40 meters into the sky. Inside the hollow interior of the trunk, there is enough space for 12 to 15 people, and according to tradition, the municipal court used to hold meetings within it. Unfortunately, in 1884, a fire engulfed the Linden tree, causing significant damage to half of the village. Subsequently, a strong gust of wind tore off the three most severely affected trunks. However, the tree has rejuvenated through new growth, and it is our hope that this ancient giant will continue to stand tall, captivating the admiration of future generations."
— The gazebo, 1892
In the magazine there is a picture of the Linden tree, created based on a photograph taken by Th. Kirsten in Dresden.[11] Additionally, the local museum of Maxen has an artistically oil painted picture, based on the same photograph.[4] The picture is supposed to show the lime tree before the storm event of 1884. However, some sources describe the image as depicting the tree's condition after the 1884 event.[3] A photograph from around 1900 shows that half of the tree's crown consisted of shorter, young branches.[8] According to the mountain club Über Berg und Tal's logbook, on May 7, 1911, 40 members of the Society for Saxon History hiked from Malter to Ploschwitz via Reinhardtsgrimma and Maxen, via the Schmorsdorf lime tree.[12]
On July 31, 1939, the lime tree was officially designated as a natural monument under the
Description
The lime tree stands at approximately 24 meters in height with a crown diameter of around 20 meters.
The tree has been measured at varied lengths over the years, yielding different circumference measurements. The circumference around the rootstock is reported to be 15.5 meters, while at a height of 1.5 meters, it measures 10.9 meters.[4] In 1994, forest scientist Hans Joachim Fröhlich recorded a circumference of 10.70 meters at a height of 1.3 meters.[14] Dutch forester Jeroen Pater measured a circumference of 10.50 meters in his book Europas Alte Bäume (Europe's Old Trees) published in 1999.[8] A brochure from the Radebeul State Environmental Agency in 2004 titled Baum-Naturdenkmale in der Region oberes Elbtal/Osterzgebirge (Tree Natural Monuments in the Upper Elbe Valley/Eastern Ore Mountains Region), reported a trunk circumference of 11.15 meters.[2] Michel Brunner gave a circumference of 11.30 meters in 2007 in his work Bedeutende Linden (Important Linden trees).[9] In 2001, the Deutsche Baumarchiv (German Tree Archive) determined a circumference of 10.46 at the point of the smallest diameter (waist), and in 2010, at a height of 1 meter, a circumference of 11.58 meters.[15] With these circumferential dimensions, the Linden tree is not only one of the most circumferential Linden trees in Germany but also in Europe.[8]
Due to the absence of the oldest wood in the center of the log, conducting a
Lindenmuseum Clara Schumann
The Lindenmuseum Clara Schumann is adjacent to the Linden tree. The museum, named after the pianist Clara Schumann, who hiked to the Linden tree multiple times, is always open and free to the public.[17] The earliest known documentation of the building dates back to 1888 when it was utilized as a fire station, as depicted in a drawing within the Bergblume (Mountain flowers). The roof truss of the building still retains the original suspension apparatus for fire hoses. From 1992 it served as a post office for Schmorsdorf. The barred window on the back side of the building still testifies to this. It was inaugurated on May 27, 2006, and has an exhibition area of 6.85 square meters, making it the smallest free-standing museum in Saxony, possibly even in Germany. In addition, it is the only museum dedicated to a Linden tree and to Clara Schumann in Germany.[4] Citizens of the district built the museum with the support of local companies. The history of the lime tree and the village of Schmorsdorf is told on four large display boards.[8] The display boards contain excerpts from the log book of the Schmorsdorf-Crotta village council, which records the most important events affecting the village from 1874 to January 20, 1954. Clara Schumann is also honored on display boards. Furthermore, as part of the museum's offerings, visitors can watch a film titled 700 Years of Maxen, created by Ernst Hirsch in 1955. This film is screened on a television set located in the attic of the museum building, providing a unique perspective on the local festival.[4]
Narratives
The lime tree in the center of the village has been an integral part of village life for centuries, surrounded by numerous stories, legends, and customs. It is believed that in the past, meetings of the municipal court were held under the lime tree, although there is no written evidence to confirm this.[4] According to local folklore, the lime tree grants one wish per year to those who quietly sit beneath it.[6] During weddings, the bridal couples line up with the wedding party and traditionally gather in front of the lime tree for a group photo. Additionally, it is a custom in the village for the deceased to be carried past the lime tree on their last journey, paying tribute to the enduring presence of the tree in the community.[6]
References
- ^ "Schmorsdorf – HOV | ISGV". hov.isgv.de. Archived from the original on 2023-05-06. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
- ^ a b c Karen Trinks: . Hrsg.: Staatliches Umweltfachamt Radebeul. pp. 83.
- ^ ISBN 978-3-8354-0740-4.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Linden Museum Clara Schumann in Schmorsdorf, founded by the local history society Maxen in 2006. (The information comes from the permanently installed display boards in the museum).
- ^ "Gemeinde Müglitztal - Schmorsdorf". Archived from the original on 2020-11-25. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
- ^ ISBN 3-9808477-1-3.
- ^ a b c Log book of the Schmorsdorf-Crotta parish council from 1874 to 1954, year 1884.
- ^ a b c d e f g Jeroen Pater: Europas Alte Bäume: Ihre Geschichten, ihre Geheimnisse. pp.98.
- ^ a b Michel Brunner: Bedeutende Linden – 400 Baumriesen Deutschlands. pp.263.
- ^ a b c Jeroen Pater: Europas Alte Bäume: Ihre Geschichten, ihre Geheimnisse. pp. 99.
- ^ a b Die Schmorsdorfer Linde. In: Die Gartenlaube . Heft 20, 1892. pp. 643
- ^ Log book of the Schmorsdorf-Crotta parish council from 1874 to 1954, year 1911.
- ^ a b c Karen Trinks: Naturschutr regional: Baum-Naturdenkmale in der Region oberes Elbtal\Osterzgebirge. Staatliches Umweltfachamt Radebeul. pp 82
- ^ a b Hans Joachim Fröhlich: Alte liebenswerte Bäume in Deutschland. pp.417.
- ^ a b Bernd Ullrich; Stefan Kühn; Uwe Kühn. Unsere 500 ältesten Bäume: Exklusiv aus dem Deutschen Baumarchiv. p. 120.
- ISBN 978-3-85932-629-3.
- ^ "Lindenmuseum Clara Schumann in Müglitztal (Sachsen)". www.kunst-und-kultur.de. Archived from the original on 2023-07-10. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
Further reading
- Karen Trinks: . Hrsg.: Staatliches Umweltfachamt Radebeul. Ubik, Radebeul 2004.
- Bernd Ullrich; Stefan Kühn; Uwe Kühn (April 2012), Unsere 500 ältesten Bäume: Exklusiv aus dem Deutschen Baumarchiv. 2, neu bearbeitete Auflage. BLV, München 2012, ISBN 978-3-8354-0957-6.
- Michel Brunner (2007), Bedeutende Linden. 400 Baumriesen Deutschlands., Haupt-Verlag, Bern / Stuttgart / Wien 2007, ISBN 978-3-258-07248-7.
- Jeroen Pater (2007), Europas Alte Bäume: Ihre Geschichten, ihre Geheimnisse, Franckh-Kosmos, Stuttgart 2007, ISBN 978-3-440-10930-4.
- Hans Joachim Fröhlich (2000), Alte liebenswerte Bäume in Deutschland, Cornelia Ahlering, Buchholz 2000, ISBN 3-926600-05-5.
- Die Schmorsdorfer Linde. In: Die Gartenlaube. Heft 20, 1892, p. 643.