A 750-year-old Swiss stone pine is the oldest tree in Tyrol

I’m sure many of you are familiar with the Zirbenweg trail above Hall and Innsbruck – it’s one of the most popular walking trails in the Inn Valley and is also very family-friendly. You can find all the information about the Zirbenweg here. But what most people haven’t realised until now is that: A true ‘Tree Methuselah’ is located not far from the Zirbenweg!
High above the medieval town of Hall in Tyrol, the home of the oldest living tree in Tyrol has stood for a good 750 years: the Swiss stone pine, which cannot be reached by any paths, stands in the midst of the 26-hectare natural forest area known as the ‘Ampasser Kessel’, surrounded by unspoilt nature. Due to the inaccessibility of the site, the area was of no interest for timber harvesting over the centuries and has thus, fortunately, been preserved in its original state.

Just under 90 years ago, in 1926, the Swiss stone pine was designated a natural monument. The tree is also home to numerous plant species; various types of lichen, which are indicative of very pure air quality, give Methuselah an archaic appearance. Several families of woodpeckers have also chosen the Swiss stone pine, situated at an altitude of 1,880 metres, as a breeding ground with its nesting cavities: alongside great spotted woodpeckers, black woodpeckers and three-toed woodpeckers also live in this unspoilt natural environment.