Magical Beechtree

THE PONTUS BEECH

This is a story from Britanny about Pontus, a legendary knight and the Beech tree.

In the depths of the forest of Brocéliande, Pontus’ beechtree has grown on the vestiges of a castle destroyed, long ago, by God himself. In that time, the Knight Pontus was greatly saddened by his absence of heirs. ‘I must have a child, be it from the Devil or God!’ he declared, from the highest point of the highest tower of his castle. God heard nothing. But the devil was all ears. The Cunning One gave the knight his wish : nine months later, during a lunar eclipse, the Châtelaine brought into the world a little hairy creature. Barely out of the womb, the little devil jumped unto an enormous armoire and then found refuge under a sideboard. ‘ This is a sorry omen!’ announced the maid- servant before running off very scared.

At that time, there blew a great wind. The tempest came from the ocean. The forest was spared, but not the castle, which crumbled unto the inhabitants. A breath of the Apocalypse had brought down the ramparts leaving instead a magnificent beechtree, which looks down on Brocéliande to this day.


Source: Le Monde enchanté des arbres. France.