Germany 2010 23-Brielow

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Brandenburg State

Vacation 2010

September 22, Germany
Lake Beetzsee & Swedish Lime Tree

Mittelmark County

After leaving the orchards, we moved on to a rather big lake. The 14 miles long but narrow Lake Beetzsee is one of the largest lakes in Brandenburg State. Volker used to live not too far from here. Here, at the boat race course, he learned how to swim. Later, during his time as coxswain in a rowing crew, the race course - the largest and most modern one in East Germany - almost became a second home.

We then crossed the small but important Silo-Canal, another one of Volker's old playgrounds (below).

Soon we reached our final destination for the day: the small village of Brielow, home to the state's most famous tree.
The Swedish Lime-Tree (Tilia tomentosa)

This 400 to 500 year-old tree has a circumfence of 43 feet and stands in full leaf every year. It received its name during a conflict in Central Europe that involved all powers of the western world and - measured by the percentage of population lost - claimed a higher toll on Europe than the two World Wars of the 20th century.

Between 1618 and 1648, in the Thirty Years War, Austria, Spain, France, Holland, Denmark, Sweden and their allies in a Germany that was divided into over 100 principalities, fought over control in Europe and over the only true religion.

In 1631, Swedish troops advanced deep into Germany. A Swedish officer fell while fighting in the fishing village of Brylow and was burried here by his bride.

To find his grave more easily, she buried him under a lime tree that even in those days towered over its surroundings.

The tree was soon known as the "Swedish Lime-Tree" and became an international attraction. Tilia or Lime trees can grow up to 1,000 years old. But this one wouldn't have made it that long without help. In 1880, it was in danger of breaking apart. The village's blacksmith forged a chain to bind its branches together. Later, his son and then his grandson in their turn each made a further chain for the tree. In order to preserve its appearance, its crown was further secured by ropes in 1996.

We took a different route back home and stopped in one more town.