Holm Oak

Idanha-a-Velha

Of all the notable trees of Idanha-a-Velha, this giant centenary holm oak (Quercus rotundifolia Lam.), clinging to the strong mortar core of the wall, is one of the rare local trees that deserves its own name: Big Holm Oak. Still today, holm oaks are an important economic source since its wood is used as firewood and charcoal, which continue to be used as domestic fuel. In some locations, holm oaks grow in groves and are environmentally important. However, if this tree is outstanding for its exceptional longevity and size, the most famous is King Wamba’s ash (Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl), on the northern side of the village outside the town perimeter, which popular belief associates to a legend related to the crowning of that Visigoth monarch.