National Heritage Site

Emblem of the International Committee of the Blue Shield that uses the protection logo of the Hague Convention of 1954.

Emblem of the Roerich Pact of 1935.

"National Heritage" redirects here. For the 1981 Spanish film, see National Heritage (film).

A National Heritage Site is a location/site that regards a building, monument, archeological, geographical,natural or topological feature having a large value ^[1] that has been registered by a governmental agency^[2] of a particular country. Usually such sites are listed in a National Heritage Register that is open to the public and many are actively advertised by national visitor bureaus as tourist attractions.

History of National Heritage listing

Each country has its own individual history of National Heritage lists and naming conventions. Items can be added to a list, only to be removed and perhaps destroyed later for economic or other reasons. The concept of protecting and taking pride in cultural heritage is something that goes back to the Seven Wonders of the World, but usually it is only after destruction, especially mass destruction in times of war, that new lists are drawn up or revisited. Many countries acknowledge UNESCO in their designation of objects considered to be worthy of listing as world heritage. They often also acknowledge the need for a separate list of objects they judge part of their own unique cultural heritage. The concept of a national heritage site can be split into many types, each type having its own unique list holder, which is often the same agency responsible for monitoring and protection. In the case of a national heritage site in a populated area, monitoring and protection may be under the jurisdiction of a fire department or local police department, whereas more remote sites may be under the protection of a central conservation agency.

Protection

Main article: List of heritage registers

Most countries pass laws to protect national heritage sites, with various classifications for owners. In Europe, many countries uphold the Venice Charter of 1964. The name of the objects protected, and the criteria for protection per country may change over time.

•  Andorra : Patrimoni Cultural, Monument d'interès cultural
•  Australia : Burra Charter, Australian National Heritage List
•  Austria : Bundesdenkmalamt, Denkmalgeschütztes Objekt
•  Belarus : National Heritage Site (Belarus)
•  Belgium : National Heritage Site (Belgium)
•  Canada : National Historic Sites of Canada
•  China : Principles for the Conservation of Heritage Sites in China, National Treasures of China
•  Croatia : Spomenik kulture
•  Czech Republic : Národní kulturní památka
•  Denmark : Heritage Agency of Denmark, National Heritage Site (Denmark)
•  Estonia : Kultuurimälestised
•  Finland : National Heritage Site (Finland)
•  France : Monument historique
•  Germany : Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz, Kulturdenkmal
•  Hong Kong : Heritage conservation in Hong Kong
•  India: Archaeological Survey of India
•  Ireland : Heritage Council, National Monument (Ireland)
•  Italy : Monumento nazionale
•  Japan : National Treasures of Japan, Cultural Properties of Japan
•  Latvia : Kultūros paminklas
•  Netherlands : Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed, Rijksmonument
•  New Zealand : New Zealand Historic places trust
•  North Korea : National Treasures of North Korea
•  Norway : Kulturminne
•  Poland : Narodowy Instytut Dziedzictwa, for Zabytek & Pomnik historii
•  Portugal : Monumento nacional
•  Romania : Romanian National Institute of Historical Monuments, Monument istoric
•  Russia : Russian cultural heritage register, National Heritage Site (Russia)
•  Serbia: Cultural Heritage of Serbia
•  Slovenia: Spomenik kulture
•  South Africa: National heritage sites (South Africa)
•  South Korea: National Treasures of South Korea
•  Spain: Patrimonio histórico español, Bien de Interés Cultural
•  Sweden: Byggnadsminne
•  Switzerland: Historic monument (Switzerland), protected by Kulturgüterschutz, or Protection des biens culturels, or Protezione dei beni culturali
•  United Kingdom: National Monuments Record (England), Listed building
•  United States: National Heritage Site (United States), National Monument (US), National Historic Landmark

UNESCO World Heritage lists

The UNESCO keeps a list of heritage sites per country that are considered internationally important.^[3] These sites are almost always also on the National Heritage register of the site's country.

See also

• Cultural Heritage
• World Heritage

References

1. ^ Usually such a list is split by type of feature (natural wonder, ruin, engineering marvel, etc.)
2. ^ Sometimes there is no National Register, but a register per country region is kept, in which case there is more than one register per country
3. ^ World Heritage List, UNESCO World Heritage Sites official sites.