The Ultner ancient larches

The Ultner Urlärchen stand in a primeval forest at an altitude of 1,430 m on the edge of St. Gertraud in the Ultental. They stand out unmistakably, reaching up to the sky, up to 36 m high and with a trunk circumference of 8 meters. Over the years, wind and weather have taken a toll on them, and even traces of lightning strikes are clearly visible in the treetops. Nevertheless, the three mighty giants in the Ultental seem indestructible, and year after year they sprout tender green leaves again.

Opinions differ on the actual age of the Urlärchen. Undoubtedly, they are among the oldest conifers in Europe, but since the trees are rotten on the inside, their exact age is difficult to determine. More than 2000 annual rings were counted on a fourth larch that fell in 1930, so it is assumed that the other three have a similarly legendary age. However, a thesis written in 2004 at the University of Innsbruck, using various calculation methods, estimates their age at only about 850 years. It is generally accepted today that they are around 1000 years old.

Even so, the Urlärchen are true Methuselahs and could surely tell many stories. After all, they have witnessed the entire history of the County of Tyrol from its beginnings in the early Middle Ages to the end of the Habsburg monarchy, and of course also the eventful history of the last 100 years. However, they cannot speak, so they only silently testify to the power of nature that outlasts us humans.

Larch trees are still used in a variety of ways today. The wood of the trees is particularly resistant to weather influences due to its resin content and is therefore used as construction and furniture wood. A roof covered with larch shingles can easily last for several decades. The resin, called "Lörget" in South Tyrol, is collected and used as a folk remedy, as well as a raw material for industry.

The impressive natural monument of the Ultner Urlärchen can be reached via an easy footpath. A rest area with benches and a fountain – made of larch wood, of course – invites visitors to linger in the shade of the tree giants. Information panels tell the story of the Urlärchen and provide information about their special features.

A tip from the environmentalist Moni from South Tyrol. She is an absolute nature lover and tries to spend her free time outdoors as often as possible.
More Tyrolean tips from environmentalist Moni