Heilige Hallen

The Heilige Hallen are one of the oldest beech woods in Germany and are found in the district of Mecklenburgische Seenplatte in Mecklenburg, 3.5 kilometres west of Feldberg. In the mid 19th century, Grand Duke George of Strelitz, impressed by the giant, columnar trees, ordered that this woodland should be protected and looked after for all time. The 25 hectare core area of the forest has been a nature reserve since the 24 February 1938. Because several of the already 350‑year‑old, up‑to‑53‑metre‑high trees have exceeded their natural life span, the wood today has a large amount of dead wood. In 1993 the area of the reserve was increased from 25 to 65.5 hectares.