A rare natural wonder

The Kraus beech near Rommersheim is located along the 3.2-kilometer Kraus Beech Loop Trail in the Prümer Land region. Hidden in the forest here are three so-called Süntel beeches—a rare variety of European beech with short trunks, twisted branches, and a broad, spreading, umbrella- or tent-like crown. Instead of growing tall, these trees tend to spread outwards. 

Curly beeches usually reach an age of 120 to 160 years, and in rare cases even up to 300 years. Historically, an earlier “court beech” is mentioned as early as 1906 in a guide to the Eifel. In the Middle Ages, it is said to have served as a place of justice. The original tree no longer exists today, but three successor trees grow in its place. The largest and oldest of these continues to define the appearance of this natural monument to this day.

The twisted beech is also known by names such as Süntel beech, witch’s wood, devil’s wood, or snake beech. The trunk and branches twist around each other like a corkscrew, forming a natural canopy with a shady interior. Particularly striking is the calcareous dolomite rock on which the trees grow. It enhances the extraordinary impression and lends the place an almost mystical atmosphere.

In summer, you can stand beneath the dense canopy and experience the tree’s unique structure. In winter, the gnarled, twisted character of the twisted beech trees becomes particularly evident. In every season, this spot in the forest offers an impressive natural experience and is a popular photo subject in the Prümer Land region.