How does it feel to stand before a record holder? Here, in Freiburg’s Mühlwald forest, you’re face-to-face with Waldtraut vom Mühlwald. This isn’t just any tree. Waldtraut is Germany’s tallest.
Waldtraut vom Mühlwald is a Douglas fir. She proudly measures 67 meters. That’s about 220 feet. She towers above all other trees in the Black Forest and the rest of Germany.
In 1913, foresters planted her here when she was just three years old. They were experimenting with tree species. They wanted to enrich the range of trees after the last Ice Age. The Douglas fir from North America thrived. It grew taller and faster than local evergreens.
Archibald Menzies, a naturalist, brought the first Douglas fir specimen to Europe. He collected it from Vancouver Island during a voyage around the world. That was between 1791 and 1795.
German forest research stations started large-scale cultivation trials around 1880. Douglas firs have been planted in Freiburg’s municipal forest since 1896. Baden initially limited cultivation to test areas. Waldtraut’s location in the Günterstal forest district was one of these.
The origin of Freiburg’s Douglas firs leads back to seed merchants. They were in Washington and British Columbia. It’s thought that the Freiburg Douglas firs come from a lineage. This lineage may have disappeared in North America. The Freiburg Douglas fir has proven superior in several cultivation trials.
Later, foresters used their own seeds to grow new Douglas fir plants. Today, Freiburg’s Douglas firs reproduce naturally. Planting is now only needed in exceptional cases. For example, after storm damage. Freiburg’s seeds are now highly sought after. That is because of their good quality.
It was confirmed in 2019 that Waldtraut vom Mühlwald is Germany’s tallest tree. The website monumentaltrees.com measured her. They recorded a height of 67.10 meters. Her trunk measures 3.38 meters around at a height of 1.30 meters.
You can reach Waldtraut vom Mühlwald via a short hike along the Mühlwaldweg. Good starting points are the Kyburg bus stop. Another option is the car park on Schauinslandstraße in Freiburg’s Günterstal district.
Wooden information boards stand near the tree. They offer more details about this famous Freiburg Douglas fir.
So, take a moment to appreciate Waldtraut vom Mühlwald. She is a testament to nature’s grandeur. She also shows the success of thoughtful forestry. She continues to grow about 30 cm each year. Waldtraut stands as a living monument. She connects us to both local history and the wider world.