"Abiturient" Horse Chestnut – Nature Monument

A white horse chestnut growing on the slope beside ulica Armii Krajowej in Radomsko, next to the grounds of I Liceum Ogólnokształcące, approximately 115 years old and holding the status of nature monument since September 2023. Residents know it as "Abiturient" – the tree under which successive cohorts of school-leavers photograph themselves on examination day.

Seven years of efforts for nature monument status

The city did not grant the horse chestnut protection immediately. Applications for nature monument status were rejected twice, in 2012 and in 2019. The breakthrough came thanks to I Liceum Ogólnokształcące in Radomsko, to which the tree is permanently connected.

In 2021, the school's former director Renata Kosela prepared a petition on the matter. It was signed by 361 people – staff, pupils and alumni of the secondary school. The matter was brought before a city council session on 29 September 2023, where councillors voted to grant the horse chestnut nature monument status.

Tree as a symbol of school-leaving examinations

The name "Abiturient" refers directly to the school's tradition. For successive cohorts of school-leavers at I LO in Radomsko, the horse chestnut beside Armii Krajowej became an informal obligatory stop on examination day – a place where commemorative photographs are taken before sitting the final examinations.

Chapel beside the tree

Next to the horse chestnut stands a recently restored chapel, which gives the place religious significance for some local residents. This is an additional reason why the tree on the slope beside Armii Krajowej is something more than just an old horse chestnut.

Care of the tree

Before being granted nature monument status, the horse chestnut underwent detailed diagnostic examination and care treatment. These were carried out jointly by Green Park and Dendromedic companies, ensuring the safety of the tree itself and the people who stop beneath it.

Practical information

• Address: ul. Armii Krajowej, on the slope, 97-500 Radomsko, beside the grounds of I Liceum Ogólnokształcące.
• Access: open-air site, accessible without time restrictions, near the monument to Władysław Reymont in Radomsko.
• What to expect: a single, substantial tree on the slope beside the street, with a nature monument plaque and a chapel nearby.