The "Nikolaus Lenau" High School


       Let s go back on the Gheorghe Lazar Street, where at number 2
   there is the "Nikolaus Lenau" High School, [16] on the place, as
   I already said, where the Orthodox Magistrate house used to be
   (1761), and later the theater. The edifice was built on its
   actual shape between the years 1878-1879 after the plans
   developed by the architect Johann Reiber; the building was
   influenced architecturally by the Neo-classic style, having
   three stories, its front having lots of ornaments. The
   decorative effect is given by the columns with classic and
   simple capitals, placed between the windows. The beginnings of
   this study place date 100 years ago when new demands appeared
   concerning the perpetuation of theoretical and specialty
   knowledge as a result of technical and economical development.
   This general demand generated in 1868 a law mandating the
   elementary grades and giving the right to built schools to
   communes and private citizens. Given these conditions, the
   administration of the Timisoara municipality approved the
   creation of a school with technical profile, in common agreement
   with the Department of Culture, so on April 23, 1870, the school
   opened, as well as, another preparatory course and an apprentice
   school. At the beginning, the teaching language was German,
   later Hungarian with explanations in German. From 1870 until
   1878, the school was in the Adult Municipal Hospital, then in
   1879, the State Superior Technical School was moved in the new
   building, whose gym room was also used by the Catholic Gymnasium
   and the Gymnastic Association.  Analytical geometry, physics,
   chemistry, natural science, and drawing were the disciplines
   taught in this institution. In 1882, the auditorium was
   finished, and between 1875 and 1949, each year a "Lenau"
   merit scholarship was given. Before the first World War, in
   Timisoara, the teaching language was Hungarian, but after the
   unification of Ardeal and Banat with Romania, the German
   language was introduced in the year 1919.

       After this date the name of the school changes to "The German
   State School". Until 1927, the school also had a Hungarian
   section, and from 1942 until 1944, in the school building on the
   Gheorghe Lazar Street, there was a normal and German girl high
   school. Since 1942 the school was in the "Banatia" building and
   received the named "Nikolaus Lenau" High School.

       After the second World War, the German High School was for a
   while in the "C.D. Loga" High School, then from 1955 was moved
   to the old building belonging to it. In Mai 26, 1957, the school
   obtained the honor title "Nikolaus Lenau" High School, then in
   1970, at the centenary anniversary, this title was confirmed by
   a decree. In the hall entrance, on the left, into a niche, is
   placed a bust of the poet Lenau (created by the sculptor A.
   Orgonas) and underneath we can read verses of this big poet born
   on these lands of Banat.