Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste has purchased the house in Wilhelmsfeld, Germany where Dr. José Rizal, wrote the final chapters of his novel Noli Me Tangere, with plans to preserve the property and convert it into a museum.

In a social media post, Leviste said the acquisition aims to protect the historic site and promote Philippine history to both Filipinos and foreign visitors.

Rizal lived in Wilhelmsfeld in 1886 while studying ophthalmology at Heidelberg University upon the invitation of Pastor Karl Ullmer. During his stay, he completed parts of Noli Me Tangere and wrote the poem A las flores de Heidelberg.

A signing ceremony was held last week with Dr. Franz Hack Ullmer, the great-grandson of Ullmer, Wilhelmsfeld Mayor Tobias Dangel, representatives of the Protestant church that owned the house, and Herbert Ehses of the Knights of Rizal.

Leviste said the purchase was made without government funds and that the house will be preserved as a museum open to the public.