Zelkova of Garimseong Fortress, Buyeo

The zelkova (Zelkova serrata) grows in warm regions including Korea, Japan, Taiwan and China. Its branches spread out in all directions to form a rounded crown; it flowers in May, and its disc-shaped fruit ripens in October. Because its trunk is thick and it is long-lived, it has often been used as a roadside shade tree offering a resting place, or protected as a dangsan-namu, a guardian tree believed to watch over and protect a village. Garimseong Fortress (a historic site) was built in the 23rd year of King Dongseong of Baekje (501) on the seven- to eight-tenths ridge line of the 286 m Seongheungsan Mountain, beside the Baengmagang River south of Buyeo. The zelkova stands near a flat stretch of ridge at the eight-tenths level of Seongheungsan, where only the fortress wall now survives (San 1-1, Gunsa-ri, Imcheon-myeon, Buyeo-gun, about 220 m from the site of the south gate). It is around 400 years old, 22 m tall and 5.4 m in girth at breast height — a single, beautiful zelkova of broad, conical shape — and from beneath it Nonsan, Ganggyeong, Iksan and Seocheon can all be seen at a glance. The Zelkova of Garimseong Fortress, Buyeo stands at the summit of Garimseong Fortress, built in the 23rd year of King Dongseong of Baekje (501), commanding a view over the Geumgang River area; with its widely spread, distinctive root form and beautiful shape, it has great academic and scenic value and is designated and protected as a natural monument.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Buyeo, Chungnam

Designation

Natural Monument · 천연기념물