In the Natisone Valleys to discover the huge centuries-old chestnut tree in Canalaz: 10 x 16 metres

Active Slow Tour

9 November 2018

Active Slow Tour

In the Natisone Valleys to discover the huge centuries-old chestnut tree in Canalaz: 10 x 16 metres

Roby told me about it. "There's a huge chestnut tree you don't know about" and a few days later I received an e-mail with all the directions to get there. It was from Daniel, "Centuries-old chestnut tree in Canalaz: go to Grimacco (UD) along the SP 45 (provincial road) in the Val Cosizza (Cividale del Friuli – San Leonardo – Grimacco).

When you get to Liessa, cross the bridge over the Cosizza river and turn right, go past the church on the left and follow the signs to Passo Monte San Martino on the left. Continue for 3-4 km to the village of Canalaz. At this point, there are signposts with directions". Daniel's e-mail also included a photo. When I saw it, I thought: "I must go straight away".

Two days later, as soon as I was free for a couple of hours, I got onto my motorbike and left. The road to the Natisone Valleys was beautiful on that warm autumn day. Amazing bends wound up to the San Martino Pass. I found it almost immediately. It was incredibly large.

It looked like two trunks had merged in an eternal embrace or a single trunk had been struck by lightning a long time ago.

I climbed up it. Up to the knots that had grown over the years on its old trunk, up to where a storm had split it dozens of years ago. The foliage had grown back dense, producing new chestnuts, but the trunk had begun a slow process of decay. But that is almost normal for a chestnut tree more than four centuries old with a trunk at least nine metres in circumference.

After climbing down and observing it, I measured it. Circumference 9.41 metres, height 16.40 metres. The largest tree in Friuli-Venezia Giulia but not yet included among the monumental trees. Something needs to be sorted, I thought to myself. So, I said goodbye to the impressive tree trunk and left.

I climbed up again to the top of San Martino on my motorbike, bumping over the stones of the old mule track and through the wood, with their wintery colours, which formed a tunnel. Suddenly, I could no longer go up so I left my motorbike and continued on foot. In the cool silence of autumn, the wood began to slowly shed its leaves.

At dusk, the mist warned me that it was better to return. Going down towards Dolegna, I stopped to admire the Forra del Rieca, a small canyon carved out by a river that is worth a look. Then I headed back towards home, gently swaying on the bends with my noisy companion among the woods of the Natisone Valleys.

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Andrea Maroè

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I look for, climb, measure and defend the oldest, largest, most majestic and mysterious trees around the world, but I love exploring our own woodlands and nature too.