Zprávy památkové péče 2014, 74(3):193-202

Culturally and historically valuable territories of the Czech Republic and the possible protection of their cultural values arising from the Building Act

Karel Kuča

The article, which grew out of a research project dedicated to culturally and historically valuable territories of the Czech Republic, initially brings a balance of the number of historically protected territories in the Czech Republic which includes 570 urban and rural units, 8 archaeological heritage reservations, and 23 landscape heritage zones. It also provides information on the preparation of a number of new proposals and the revision of existing historically protected settlements in the last decade, but none of which have yet been realized. In addition, during this period there have been substantial changes in the legislative framework: the declaration of heritage zones is no longer possible by decree, but by general measures according to administrative order. Plans for the protection of heritage reservations and heritage zones can be implemented in the same way, which on one hand allows for the reduction of the obligation to obtain a binding statement for certain work on defined groups of property, but on the other hand they provide the possibility to identify buildings in protected areas that are architecturally valuable, historically significant, or major building landmarks that are not cultural monuments. This is possible through the acquisition of relevant phenomena of planning analytical materials (UAP). Observed phenomena brought a recent Building Act that also contains other important provisions which allow for the protection of heritage values throughout the country. What follows is a general vision for further potential of protected territories of the Czech Republic, urban, rural, and landscape alike, that emerged as part of resolving the project. In order to properly identify their values, it is desirable to use the methodology of heritage evaluation of the buildings, the current version of which is presented in the article. It is essential that the individual categories are related to phenomena monitored by the UAP, allowing for their application throughout the entire state. This relationship therefore receives the most attention in the article. Selected phenomena of UAP allow for all identified heritage values to be incorporated into the land planning system throughout the entire state. This is essential for an appreciation of their values and a perspective of their protection. Within the present project, efforts were initiated to clarify the definition of those phenomena which are important in the field of conservation, or to even supplement the phenomena that are still missing.

Keywords: Culturally and historically valuable territories, urbanism, analytical planning materials, protection of heritage reservations, towns, villages, countryside

Published: September 1, 2014  Show citation