While the Loire is the longest river in France, the Danube is a river of even greater magnitude: at 2,850 kilometres, it is the longest river tree in Europe. Its foliage and branches are shared by no fewer than 19 countries in Europe, making it the most international river on the planet. Originating in Germany, in the Black Forest, its upper reaches run alongside the snow-capped Alpine peaks of Europe, particularly in Austria. As it flows down its course, the river grows larger as it is joined by numerous tributaries, crossing the diverse landscapes of Central Europe, from mountains to plains, often freezing in places during winter. It finally ends its journey in a magnificent delta opening onto the Black Sea in Romania, a remarkable wetland in terms of biodiversity.

Its wide branches are home to several famous European cities whose reputation is well established: Vienna, Munich, Budapest and Bucharest, centres of culture and art where the inspiration of illustrious artists has lent colour to the river, such as Johann Strauss and his ‘Blue Danube Waltz’ or Jules Verne and his novel ‘The Beautiful Yellow Danube’, not to mention all the others who have set their plots somewhere along the river. A river fertile for the imagination, then. The Danube is also an ancient tree that rubbed shoulders with the Roman Empire, which made it the boundary of its territory, and the Ottoman Empire at a time when Eastern Europe was the battleground between Christians and Muslims. Then it witnessed the Great War and the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the terrible dictatorships of the 20th century, and the wars in Yugoslavia. Now, a time of peace has come – for how long?

If the Danube were a tree, it could be the linden tree: a tree symbolic in Eastern Europe of community, hospitality and peace, it was commonly planted in the centre of villages. This tree is found in abundantly in the Danube basin, and its wood, honey and flowers have long been appreciated by local cultures, representing the nourishing role of the river.

The Danube Linden Tree, Tilia Danubius