Memorial plaque (bust) of Ferdinand Blumentritt

This memorial plaque on the remains of the defensive wall in the little park by Na Valech street in Litoměřice is devoted to Ferdinand Blumentritt, who received international acclaim for his studies about the Philippines. He lived in the second half of the 19th and early 20th century and worked in Litoměřice as a secondary school teacher.

Ferdinand Blumentritt (10. 9. 1853–20. 9. 1913) was a secondary school history and geography teacher at the grammar school in Litoměřice, where he was also headmaster. He received international acclaim for his scientific works about the Philippines, particularly on its ethnography, cartography and linguistics. Blumentritt kept in contact with José Rizal, the main figure in the Philippine resistance against Spanish colonial rule. The bronze larger-than-life-size bust was unveiled in May 2001 at a ceremony attended by the Philippine Ambassador and other distinguished guests: members of the Order of the Knights of Rizal and Blumentritt’s descendants. The bust is the work of the sculptor Libor Pisklák (who also created the bust of José Rizal in Litoměřice). The bottom of the plaque contains a fragment of Rizal’s letter to Blumentritt dated 19 May 1887, that Rizal wrote immediately after his visit to Litoměřice.

Kronika města Litoměřic 2001. URL: https://www.litomerice.cz/images/kronika/kronika_2001.pdf [30. 11. 2018].
Kotyza, O.; Smetana, J.; Tomas, J. (eds.): Dějiny města Litoměřic. Litoměřice 1997.

Detail of a memorial plaque with a fragment of Rizal's letter. (Author: jam)

The park in Na Valech Street, the memorial plaque is located on the castle wall. (Author: jam)