Menšinová škola občanská a obecní Ústí nad Labem School building

The Czech General and Civil Minority School, known as Masaryk National School, is an important historical monument located on Palach Street in the Kliš district of Ústí nad Labem. This building, built in 1930 in the functional style of architect Josef Gočár, is one of the most prominent representatives of functionalism in Northern Bohemia. Its uniqueness is that it has achieved without major interference and is one of the few preserved functionalist buildings in the region.

The history of the school dates back to 1897, when the first Czech school in the political district Ústí nad Labem was founded in Beautiful March. This private (matrices) school also served children from Czech families in Ústí nad Labem and Prelic. After joining Beautiful March and Klíše to Ústí nad Labem in 1900, the local Czechs tried to establish a minority school with Czech language of instruction. After the creation of Czechoslovakia, these efforts were satisfied, and the building of the former German school in Solní Street (now U Kostel) became the seat of the new school, which was not suitable for teaching. In 1924, the local school committee asked the Ministry of Education for a new building, which led to a tender for its construction.

The architectural design of Josef Gočár for the school gradually changed and eventually gained clear functionalist forms. The construction work began on 31 October 1928 on the land which the city devoted under a condition - completion of the construction within two years. The value of the land was valued at CZK 300,000. The construction was carried out by Ing. F. Jenč & F. Hladeček and spol. and F. Kroft, the city was partly involved in the costs besides the State. The building is located in a slightly sloping terrain, which affected its design. The floor plan of the building is chipped, with elevated staircase risties, the most significant element of the facade are strip and individual windows of different sizes. The roof is flat and the building is connected to the former director's villa.

In front of the school there was a sandstone plate with a relief of a small Czech character from sculptor Otakar Velímský. This plate was torn down and buried by German students after the occupation of the Czechoslovak border in October 1938, but was restored after 1945. In 1964 it was removed and restored in 1990.

The opening ceremony took place on 28 September 1930, including with the participation of Senator Emanuel Hrubý. Due to its architectural significance and the preservation of the original elements of the interior, the building of the school was declared a cultural monument on 8 September 2022.

Today, this building is not only a monument to architecture, but also a witness to historical changes and efforts to preserve national identity. Its functionality as a school has changed over the years; Palach Elementary School is based here today. By exploring this monument, visitors can not only appreciate its architectural importance, but also recall important chapters of Czech history.

This school building is more than just a building object; This is a testimony of the efforts of Czechs to recognise and preserve their culture even during periods of political change. Visit it to learn not only the history of architecture, but also the spirit of the time that took place here.