Forest aesthetics

The tradition of Training Forest Enterprise Masaryk Forest in Křtiny in the development of aesthetic and educational functions of the forest is long. Nature beauties of the region are deliberately complemented and emphasized. Beautiful views into the surroundings are maintained on elevations. Forest glades are being intentionally established in the unbroken area of the forest stands, around which exotic tree species are planted to enhance the aesthetic impression. Existing forest springs are scrupulously looked after and new fountains are built. Memorials and memorial tablets are being placed at selected places. A whole complex of about 70 objects is called the Forest Pantheon. Fountains overflowing with the bubbling clear water, plaques located at picturesque places and smaller or larger memorials are dedicated to prominent Czech and foreign foresters and artists, teachers in forest sciences, wildlife, trees and to forests themselves. Famous personalities of our cultural and forest heritage are commemorated not only by their names but also by their sayings and quotations from their works. This is how together with the pictures and special arrangements of individual elements of the Forest Pantheon an attentive visitor is given a lot of valuable information and impressions. The objects are therefore used for various cultural events such as Spring welcome back, recitals in the open and commemorative meetings. Both experts and common visitors will appreciate a guidebook through the Forest Pantheon or a newly published book on the Memorials of Adamov forests. It is so easy to make the plan, make up one’s mind for a certain attractive route, get acquainted with the relevant information – and then just set out on the trip. Considering the fact that the number of objects of the Forest Pantheon is rather extensive, there should be more outings for health and learning. Only then one can find the fountain named Pod hradem (Below the Castle) with engravings taken from Indian wise sayings: „ Animal be your brother and plant your sister“, the Wood Grouse, Roe Deer and Woodcock fountains, the fountain „U psa“ (At the dog’s) with the quotation from Victor Hugo „The more I learn the mankind, the more I love dogs“, the St. Hubert’s fountain with the image of the patron of game keepers, the memorial of Karel Hynek Mácha with a passage from his most famous poem Máj (May), the fountain Birds’ Sanctuary, the monument of foresters tortured to death, the memorial of Prof. Haša with the quotation „You are in the forest, you are in a temple“, the memorial of Prof. Zlatník, the commemorative plaque of Rudolf Těsnohlídek, the fountain of Leoš Janáček with a score passage from his opera The Sly Little Vixen, the fountain of the native writer Jiří Tomeček with a motto saying that “Wolf lives on feet, eagle on wings, man on heart“ and many other. This Forest Pantheon is a great and binding legacy from founders of the university forest education in Brno established some 90 years ago, after Professors such as Josef Konšel, Rudolf Haša and Josef Opletal. Keen visitors should therefore not miss a walk around the Řícmanice Arboretum which is a very culmination of the Forest Pantheon with the lovely Forest Prayer fountain and with the Memorial of Trees reaching up proudly to the height of 6 meters. In these beautiful natural surroundings they can read sayings about the forests and their importance recorded by nearly 20 nations, all in their original languages with the Czech translation. Those who are fond of music can sing acording to the score fragment illustrated here from a poem by Jaroslav Vrchlický and put into music by Prof. Antonín Dyk, which gave the name to the memorial. And tourists will certainly not forget to visit a forested glen stretching along the Arboretum where water springs out into the fountain of the Forest Prayer on whose front wall visitors can read a message of general validity. Readers are encouraged to understand this chapter as an invitation to visit the deep forests of MZLU Training Forest Enterprise Masaryk Forest in Křtiny; forests that are renowned for the results of work and efforts of many outstanding artists, teachers and foresters. It might be that during a lovely walk they will meet the cunning and cheerful Sly Little Vixen or her offsprings which take these forests for their home, too.