LovranQR

Memorial plaques of the visit of the King Frederick Augustus II of Saxony

In the 19th century Lovran, because of its location between the sea and the Mount Učka, its pleasant climate and its peaceful atmosphere, became attractive to merchants, idealists and adventurers. Among the great number of scientists and nature lovers, particularly worth mentioning is the name of the Saxon king, Frederick Augustus II (1797–1854), who came to throne in 1836 (succeeding his uncle Anton).

In spite of the political turbulence which was common in Germany at the time, the ‘merry king’, as he was called, visited Učka and Lovran as a highly knowledgeable botanist on several occasions. He was especially interested in medicinal herbs, and two of his visits are very important for this area. On the first, in 1838, the King travelled by ship along the Adriatic coast, from Trieste to Budva, and on the way back the ship anchored at Martinšćica, from where the King and his escort continued their journey by carriage. He visited Rijeka, Kastav, Volosko and Matulji. On that occasion they continued their journey to Poklon Pass on Mount Učka, and then went further on foot to the peak of Vojak. Due to severe weather his botanical research of Učka was cancelled, and the journey to Trieste was continued by carriage.

The second of the King's visits, in 1845, was much more important for this area. After one of his exploratory mountain trips, King Friedrich, in the company of the Croatian colonel Baron Josip Jelačić, later Ban of Croatia, again carried out botanical research on Učka. According to the reports, because of the great heat he descended to Lovran. He rested in the shade of Lovran's hackberry tree, to which two stone plaques on the wall of the 'Villa Istria' bear witness. The first one is written in Italian, and it was ordered and set in place by Francesko Saverio Lettis, Lovran's mayor and a member of a respectable naval family.

The inscription on the plaque reads: 11th June 1845 – Frederick Augustus, King of Saxony, zealous, remarkable, liberal, a devotee of botanical science, after repeated visits to Učka, briefly rested here and with his kind and gentle spirit won the hearts of people from Lovran. To maintain an honoured guest in continuous and grateful memory. F. S. Lettis.

The second plaque is written in Latin and is believed to be older (because of the damage) although it is dated to the same date. Its inscription reads: Frederick, merry King of Saxony, sat under this hackberry tree on 11th June 1845.