Gymnasium Karlovac
Encyclopedia
Gymnasium Karlovac sometimes historically referred to as Higher Real Gymnasium, is a gymnasium
in the city of Karlovac
in Croatia
. Housed in a dedicated building constructed in 1863, the school considers itself to have been founded as early as 1766. At that time, Karlovac was part of the Croatian Military Frontier under the rule of the Austrian Empire
. Starting in 1766 and under the direction of Maria Theresa of Austria
, piarists
were sent to Karlovac to teach subjects to two grade levels, the main subject being the Latin
language.
The gymnasium's most famous alumnus is inventor, physicist, and electrical and mechanical engineer Nikola Tesla
who attended the school from 1870 until 1873. Starting his studies in Karlovac at the age of 14, Tesla had decided upon his career before graduating from the Higher Real Gymnasium at the age of 17.
In early 2010 the gymnasium was accepted as the 37th member of the German global school network in Croatia. This designation allows students to attend German
universities without having to complete the usual prerequisite German language
entrance examination.
attended the gymnasium starting in 1870 until he graduated with honours from the four-year course in only three years when he was 17 years old. Stricken with malaria
shortly after his arrival in the mosquito
-infested swamp
y lowlands of Karlovac, Tesla was bedridden at times and often took his school books home to read and memorize them when he was unable to attend class. James O'Neill, in his book Prodigal Genius: The Life of Nikola Tesla, states that a physics professor from the gymnasium had a most profound effect on Tesla. O'Neill states that Tesla had a favourable impression of the professor, who was a "clever and original experimenter" and had "amazed [Tesla] with the feats he performed with laboratory apparatus", and that it was because of him that Tesla had made up his mind and "selected his career."
Other notable alumni include actress Zrinka Cvitešić
, poet and writer Ivan Goran Kovačić
, politician and founder of the Croatian Peasant Party
Stjepan Radić
, and explorers and brothers Mirko and Stjepan Seljan
.
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
in the city of Karlovac
Karlovac
Karlovac is a city and municipality in central Croatia. The city proper has a population of 49,082, while the municipality has a population of 59,395 inhabitants .Karlovac is the administrative centre of Karlovac County...
in Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
. Housed in a dedicated building constructed in 1863, the school considers itself to have been founded as early as 1766. At that time, Karlovac was part of the Croatian Military Frontier under the rule of the Austrian Empire
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
. Starting in 1766 and under the direction of Maria Theresa of Austria
Maria Theresa of Austria
Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina was the only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions and the last of the House of Habsburg. She was the sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Mantua, Milan, Lodomeria and Galicia, the Austrian Netherlands and Parma...
, piarists
Piarists
The Order of Poor Clerics Regular of the Mother of God of the Pious Schools or, in short, Piarists , is the name of the oldest Catholic educational order also known as the Scolopi, Escolapios or Poor Clerics of the Mother of God...
were sent to Karlovac to teach subjects to two grade levels, the main subject being the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
language.
The gymnasium's most famous alumnus is inventor, physicist, and electrical and mechanical engineer Nikola Tesla
Nikola Tesla
Nikola Tesla was a Serbian-American inventor, mechanical engineer, and electrical engineer...
who attended the school from 1870 until 1873. Starting his studies in Karlovac at the age of 14, Tesla had decided upon his career before graduating from the Higher Real Gymnasium at the age of 17.
In early 2010 the gymnasium was accepted as the 37th member of the German global school network in Croatia. This designation allows students to attend German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
universities without having to complete the usual prerequisite German language
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
entrance examination.
Notable alumni
Inventor and engineer Nikola TeslaNikola Tesla
Nikola Tesla was a Serbian-American inventor, mechanical engineer, and electrical engineer...
attended the gymnasium starting in 1870 until he graduated with honours from the four-year course in only three years when he was 17 years old. Stricken with malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
shortly after his arrival in the mosquito
Mosquito
Mosquitoes are members of a family of nematocerid flies: the Culicidae . The word Mosquito is from the Spanish and Portuguese for little fly...
-infested swamp
Swamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
y lowlands of Karlovac, Tesla was bedridden at times and often took his school books home to read and memorize them when he was unable to attend class. James O'Neill, in his book Prodigal Genius: The Life of Nikola Tesla, states that a physics professor from the gymnasium had a most profound effect on Tesla. O'Neill states that Tesla had a favourable impression of the professor, who was a "clever and original experimenter" and had "amazed [Tesla] with the feats he performed with laboratory apparatus", and that it was because of him that Tesla had made up his mind and "selected his career."
Other notable alumni include actress Zrinka Cvitešić
Zrinka Cvitešic
Zrinka Cvitešić is a film, television and theatre actress.As a theatre actress, she has been a member of the Croatian National Theatre since 2005. In addition to acting, she is also an accomplished dancer...
, poet and writer Ivan Goran Kovačić
Ivan Goran Kovacic
Ivan Goran Kovačić was a prominent Croatian poet and writer of the 20th century.-Early life and background:He was born in Lukovdol , a town in Gorski Kotar, to Croatian father Ivan and Jewish mother Ruža . His middle name Goran stems from that...
, politician and founder of the Croatian Peasant Party
Croatian Peasant Party
The Croatian Peasant Party is a center and socially conservative political party in Croatia.-Austria-Hungary:The Croatian People's Peasant Party was formed on December 22, 1904 by Antun Radić along with his brother Stjepan Radić. The party contested elections for the first time in the Kingdom of...
Stjepan Radić
Stjepan Radic
Stjepan Radić was a Croatian politician and the founder of the Croatian Peasant Party in 1905. Radić is credited with galvanizing the peasantry of Croatia into a viable political force...
, and explorers and brothers Mirko and Stjepan Seljan
Mirko and Stjepan Seljan
Mirko Seljan and Stevo Seljan , also croatized Stjepan, were Croatian explorers....
.