With a bit of luck, Strasbourg’s Christmas Market will once again look like the picture above…but they’re having trouble with the tree.
First one, and then a second huge conifer developed large splits that ruled them out as the city’s Christmas tree. The first tree’s damage was found shortly after being cut in the nearby Vosges Mountains forests, and a second, nearby tree was cut.
The second tree was set up in Place Kleber on Oct. 30th, but before it could be decorated, it was found that a split of up to 5mm wide and 15cm long had developed in the trunk. Strasbourg Mayor Roland Ries said “Unable to say whether the crack is growing in size or not and whether or not it will be resistant to the wind, we have been forced to take preventative measures.”
The measures involve cutting a third tree, from a different forest in the region. Because the problems have already cost about €50,000, Plan C involves saving part of the cost by cutting a tree close to a car park in the woods, making it easier to load the truck.
