Bývalá Státní škola pro lesní hajné se zahradou School building

Welcome to the village Týnské Předměstí, in the beautiful region of Pilsen. Right now, you are standing in front of a building that has a respectable history and is today properly protected as a cultural monument to the Czech Republic. In front of you is the former Forest Gamehouse State School. Feel the presence and atmosphere of this place, which brings you to a time when forest management education was crucial for the development of the entire region. It is a place where theoretical knowledge and practical craft were combined, and where experts were built, who had the care of our forests and nature.

Let us now stop at the creation of this building. Although the exact date of laying of the base stone is not mentioned in our records, we know who was behind the resemblance of this object. The author of the project was architect Hanuš Zápal. It is his vision and plan that makes the building still standing and serving as a reminder of its ursprung function. At that time, it was necessary to build an institution that would provide quality teaching for future gamekeepers, because forest management required deep knowledge of nature, laws and technology. This school was the answer to the need for qualified workers for state forest management.

Now pay attention to the architecture itself. Look at the overall composition of the building and look at its appearance. The facade before you bears witness to the functionality and dignity of the state educational institution. Take a look at the roof line and window layout to provide enough light for students to study maps or botanical samples. Notice the surrounding space as well. The building is not just the house itself, but it is connected to the garden. This garden was not only intended to rest, but it served as a living textbook. Imagine these students walking around between plants, studying different kinds of trees and learning to know nature in its direct vicinity. It is this combination of school and green that makes up a unique whole, which today makes up the cultural value of this place.

When we think about the people who worked here, we have to realize what the life of a forestry student was like at that time. Although the specific names of the famous figures who would study here are not mentioned in our records, we can imagine hundreds of young men who spent their youth here. They were people who learned patience, responsibility and deep respect for nature. Imagine morning calls in the garden, discussion of forest management or quiet study in the classroom. This building witnessed thousands of hours of teaching and shaping the characters of people who subsequently determined the shape of our landscapes.

You might find one interesting thing that comes from the very determination of this monument. The fact that the building is protected as a cultural monument means that the state recognises its irreplaceable value. It is not just an ordinary house, but a symbol of a certain era when state-organized education in the fields of nature became modern and systematic. The mystery remains, as was precisely the interaction between theoretical teaching in these walls and practical teaching in the surrounding wooded areas. Where exactly did the school end, and where did the real forest start where the students tried? It is these unknowns that give a certain charm to the place and encourage us to think about how nature's perception has changed since the beginning of school until today.

Now that you've looked at the exterior of the building and learned about its significance, I suggest you take a moment in silence to perceive the surroundings. Try to imagine the sound of the bell calling students to classes or the roaring of leaves in the adjacent garden that accompanied their study. This building is a silent witness to the history of Týnské Suburb and the entire Pilsen region. It is proof that education and nature care went hand in hand many years ago.

Thank you for taking a walk at this beautiful monument. I hope you were interested in the story of the former Forest Gamekeeper State School and that you felt respect for the work of architect Hanus Zapal and the people who studied here. I will now invite you to further explore the surroundings of the village Týnské Předměstí. Discover other corners of this region, pay attention to the details of the landscape and be guided by curiosity. I wish you the rest of the day and many new discoveries on your journey. Goodbye.