The Millenary Larches of Val d’Ultimo: Silent Giants of History and Nature
Hidden among the forests that shelter the farmsteads of “Außerlahn”, just above the village of Santa Gertrude (1,430 m a.s.l.), stand three millenary larches — true living monuments and among the oldest conifers in Europe.
These extraordinary trees are not just witnesses of nature but fragments of history rooted in time. They already existed during the Roman Empire, when Val d’Ultimo was home to bears, wolves, and lynxes. The word “Lahn” in the local dialect means “avalanche” — recalling the protective role of these ancient forests.
A Living Heritage for Over 2,000 Years
In 1930, on a larch felled by the wind, more than 2,000 growth rings were counted, confirming the extraordinary age of these trees. The three still-living specimens, though marked by time and nature, continue to resist, sprout, and grow:
The Tallest
- Current height: 36.5 metres
- Circumference: 7 metres
- Curiosity: its top was struck by lightning, yet the tree continues to rise, strong and majestic.
The Largest
- Circumference: 8.34 metres
- Height: 34.5 metres
- Curiosity: it features a distinctive bulbous growth on its trunk.
The “Resilient” One
- Current height: 22.5 metres
- Characteristic: broken at 6 metres high for generations, it turned a side branch into its new top.
- Curiosity: although much of the trunk is dead, it sprouts new growth every year — a pure symbol of strength and renewal.
A Place to Experience and Respect
The millenary larches are living memories — silent guardians of the valley and witnesses to the passage of time. Reaching them on foot is simple and rewarding, and the spot where they stand offers an atmosphere of natural sacredness, perfect for walking, meditating, and finding inspiration.
The millenary larches of Val d’Ultimo await you to tell an ancient story shaped by wind, snow, sun, and silence. Come and meet these giants of time.
