One of the oldest trees in Croatia – 780-year-old large-leaved linden – to be preserved in gene pool conservation project

by croatiaweek
February 9, 2022
in News

One of the oldest trees in Croatia: 780-year-old large-leaved linden tree to be preserved in gene pool conservation project

(Photo credit: Varaždinska županija)

ZAGREB, 8 Feb (Hina) – The northern Croatian municipality of Visoko boasts of one of the oldest trees in Croatia, and it is a large-leaved linden tree, which was, according to some legends, planted by King Bela IV Arpadović while fleeing before the Tatars in 1242 towards Dalmatia.

The tree called in Croatian “Belina Lipa” was named after that ruler, Béla IV, who was the King of Hungary and Croatia between 1235 and 1270.

(Photo credit: Varaždinska županija)

The local authorities, the public institution tasked with the preservation of nature in Varaždin County and the Croatian Forest Research Institute have joined efforts to include the Belina Lipa tree as well as a unique linden tree in the Opeka Arboretum in Vinica, Varaždin County, in a gene pool conservation project.

(Photo credit: Varaždinska županija)

The conservation of the gene pools of such trees is of great importance for the local communities and for the whole county, Prefect Anđelko Stričak said on Tuesday.