We hopped a bus today to check out the old town of Roquebrune (France). I was intrigued by one of the major attractions listed in the tourist brochures for this little old ville perche just West of Menton. It claimed to have a 1000 year old olive tree. I just couldn’t let that one get by so we went for a look.
The first photo shows the tree as you approach along the footpath. (The sign says “Olivier millenaire”) It is growing down over a retaining wall that presumably predates it.
In the second one I got my wife to stand in front of it for some context. The exposed root area is probably twenty five to thirty feet wide.
You know how sometimes you look at a steer and all you see is a pile of steaks? Well I was looking at this ancient marvel and in my mind the only thought was “Man, that’s a lot of fine figured veneer !” I think (hope) we’ll be out of France before the authorities read this.
Ville perche (perched village) There are lots of small villages in this part of France that were built “perched” at the tops of steep pinnacles in order to be defend-able in their day. Now the attacking throngs bring their cameras, not their swords. I think this may signify progress.
Thanks for joining me
Paul
-- Paul M ..............If God wanted us to have fiberglass boats he would have given us fiberglass trees. http://prmdesigns.com/
8 comments so far
prometej065
home | projects | blog
196 posts in 1853 days
#1 posted 597 days ago
It is really impressive, see something, and believe me we, and I thought I’d do the same as you Paul.
Is intriguing to me how one day he will be a veneer of root roses in my garden – roses, which is about 40 years old!
I think even our imaginations can not imagine the veneer of this grand olive roots.
I hope that you will rejoice at the new gorgeous photos from your European odyssey!
I wish you a nice European days,
Dusan
-- http://prometheus065.blogspot.com/
cathyb
home | projects | blog
544 posts in 1414 days
#2 posted 597 days ago
You crack me up! While you salivate over the wood, most people would think, “That poor tree is holding on for dear life…..”
Enjoy your trip.
-- cathyb, Hawaii, www.cathyswoodworking.com
rsladdwoodworks
home | projects | blog
311 posts in 1339 days
#3 posted 597 days ago
you could have got one branch
-- Robert Laddusaw and no I am not smarter then a fifth grader ( and no I canot spell so if it is a problem don't read it ))
Napaman
home | projects | blog
5015 posts in 2247 days
#4 posted 596 days ago
That 2nd picture really is amazing and shows the size…every year I watch the tour de france and drool and wish for the day I can tour france and europe…enjoy every moment…thanks for sharing the adventure with us…
Matt
-- Matt--Proud LJ since 2007
larryw
home | projects | blog
240 posts in 832 days
#5 posted 596 days ago
Thanks Paul for sharing your adventures and photos. The pile of steaks analogy is spot on. I think all of us wood lovers do that kind of thing. When I was in New Zealand a few years ago, I visited some of the giant Kauri trees there, proported to be at least 2500 years old, and was thinking some crimminal thoughts , “hmmm what nice wide beautiful boards one could get out of this tree”. I always seem to be torn between wanting to save and admire beautiful trees, and wondering what beautiful wood lies just beneath the bark.
-- "everything is beautiful, but not everyone sees it" ~confucius-551-449 b.c.~
lanwater
home | projects | blog
2420 posts in 1104 days
#6 posted 596 days ago
That’s an impressive olive tree.
More impressive is the retaining wall that’s part of it.
Thanks Paul!
Bon voyage.
Roger
home | projects | blog
9192 posts in 974 days
#7 posted 596 days ago
oh yessssssss. what gr8 beauty. your wife looks very nice also.. :)
-- Roger from KY. Work/Play/Travel Safe. Kentuk55@bellsouth.net
Billp
home | projects | blog
716 posts in 2370 days
#8 posted 595 days ago
Glad to see you having a great time Paul. I bet you have seen some great marquetry. I was on the mount of olives in Isreal where the trees were over 2000yrs old and still producing olives. Hope you have a wonderful trip and learn some new marquetry tricks & Ideas.
-- Billp
Have your say...