The chestnut tree
Species:
Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa)
Age:
800 - 1 000 years
Region:
Pianello, Corsica, France
This chestnut tree, 15 metres in circumference, belongs to a species which, for hundreds of years, fed human groups settled in the area. Collective memory has recorded its gratitude by naming it “the bread tree”. Furthermore, its fruit is a suitable food for breeding pigs in the traditional way. It is a venerable specimen, worthy of being listed among France’s outstanding trees. From an aesthetic perspective, the discerning eye will note that it looks like a fantastical being – half plant, half human – that stands guard over its surroundings.