Gros Tilleul d'Argoules

Argoules

The square of Argoules bears the name of its tree. The Gros Tilleul, a small-leaved lime of more than 5 m in girth and 13 m high in 2018, stands there between the church of Saint-Germain and the brick-and-stone château of the 16^th century. Its age is debated. The village tradition makes it a 'Sully tree', planted in the early 17^th century at the call of Henri IV's minister, who is said to have asked the parishes of France to plant a tree in front of the church; it would then be more than four hundred years old. Others see in it a tree of Liberty planted at the Revolution, in 1792 or 1793, which would give it a little more than two centuries. The regional heritage inventory keeps the first name, 'Place du Gros-Tilleul, known as the Arbre de Sully', without deciding. What is certain is that the State judged it worthy of protection: it is listed as a natural monument by ministerial order of 8 January 1934, under the law of 1930 on sites, and still appears on the national list of listed sites; the regional heritage inventory, for its part, dates the order to 22 July 1933. On the night of 15 to 16 October 1987, a storm broke a large part of its crown and its survival was in doubt; a protection was put in place, and the tree has slowly grown a new crown. It received the Arbre remarquable de France label in 2016. It is alive, and the inn facing it bears its name.

Wikipédia — Argoules ↗

Getting there : Argoules is on the D 192, on the left bank of the Authie, between Nampont and Dompierre-sur-Authie; the tree is in the centre of the village, on the square, visible at all times. The abbey and gardens of Valloires, two kilometres away, complete the visit; a walking circuit of about 8 km, known as the Circuit de Valloires, starts from the village.

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

Ambient sound