Pear tree at the Walserfeld, Historical tree in Wals-Siezenheim, Austria.
The pear tree at Walserfeld stands alone in agricultural fields, distinguishing itself with a broad canopy and sturdy trunk against the Salzburg countryside. Its age and robust form make it a notable landmark within the flat rural landscape.
The pear tree dates from the 19th century and marks the location of the Battle of Walserfeld in 1800, where French and Austrian forces clashed. This historical confrontation defined the area and remains connected to the tree's location.
The tree appears on the coat of arms of Wals-Siezenheim and serves as the municipality's emblem. A local legend, first recorded in 1564, tells that a monk showed a dying man the interior of the Untersberg and pointed to the pear tree as the site of a future great battle. The poet Adelbert von Chamisso made the tree known beyond the region with his 1831 ballad "Der Birnbaum auf dem Walserfeld".
The tree sits in open fields and is easily visible during daylight, especially when approached from surrounding paths. The best time to visit is during dry weather, when field paths are accessible and the surroundings are easier to explore.
The tree that stood until about 2015 was declared a natural monument in 1932, but the replacement planted on 3 December 2015 at the Ederweg no longer holds that status. In 1970 the city of Salzburg gave the tree to the municipality of Wals-Siezenheim, whose coat of arms shows it.
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