Baumriesen der Schweiz

Michel Brunner (1978), graphic designer and author, has been measuring and photographing tree giants in Europe for over 10 years. More than 2000 old trees have been cataloged, including over 1000 specimens in Switzerland alone. He maintains international contacts with associations and other tree specialists such as dendrologists, foresters, tree care experts, and authors. He gives lectures at professional seminars and events and actively advocates for sustainable tree protection.

Did you know that the mightiest Swiss stone pines, larches, and spruces in the world are found in the Swiss Alps? Would you have thought that the oldest tree in Switzerland, a yew, could be 1500 years old? Why is there only one remaining older tree of the fruit variety "Sept en gueule" (Seven in one mouth), and where have the elms with over 10 meters in trunk circumference gone? Why is one of the mightiest ashes in Europe unknown, even though it stands next to a train station? What is a "snake spruce" or a "harvest fir"? Why does the thickest Judas tree challenge the previously known growth potential? This pioneering work presents the mightiest, oldest, and most curious of over 1000 examined tree giants in Switzerland. You will learn everything you want to know about trees, from myths and cults to history and forestry, and discover the "gentle giants" from a new, fascinating perspective.