Declaration of an Immovable or Movable Object as Cultural Heritage
It is the Czech Ministry of Culture that may designate a movable or immovable object as cultural heritage on the basis of §3 of Act No. 20/1987 Coll., on State Heritage Preservation [as amended). Anyone can nominate an object to be designated, either directly to the Ministry or via a regional department of the National Heritage Institute. The process of designation is governed by regulations - the sole participant being the owner of the object.
The formal requirements for nominating an object as cultural heritage are specified by the Ministry of Culture (external link); these are binding for nominations to the National Heritage Institute. We recommend consulting with a regional department of the Institute prior to submitting a nomination.
Cancellation of a designation of an object (movable or immovable) as a Cultural Heritage Object
In exceptional circumstances, heritage protection for a cultural heritage object or a part thereof may be cancelled. The process of cancellation is stipulated in §8 of Act 20/1987 Coll., and is fully within the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Culture. An application for the cancellation of heritage protection may only be submitted by the owner of the object, or an organisation who can demonstrate a legal interest in the cancellation.
Designation of a Cultural Heritage as a National Cultural Heritage
According to §4 of Act 20/1987 Coll., the Ministry of Culture may recommend to the Government of the Czech Republic to designate a particular cultural heritage object as a National Cultural Property. Nominations for such a designation can be made by anyone to the Ministry of Culture.
Designation of a Conservation Area (Heritage Reservation, Heritage Zone) or of a Heritage Buffer Zone
Heritage Reservations are designated by the Government of the Czech Republic as per §5. Anyone may propose a nomination for designation of a Heritage Reservation to the Ministry of Culture, via the relevant municipality.
Heritage Zones are designated by the Ministry of Culture as per §6 of Act 20/1987 Coll. Until 1990, this function was carried out by regional councils. Anyone may propose a nomination to the Ministry, through the appropriate municipality.
Heritage Buffer Zones around immovable cultural monuments or National Cultural Propertys are declared by municipalities with extended competence, as per §17. Nominations can be submitted to the relevant municipality by anyone.
Inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List
The most significant cultural monuments may be selected by the World Heritage Committee for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List; they are usually National Cultural Properties or conservation areas on a tentative list at the behest of the Government of the Czech Republic.
Information about Submitting a Nomination for a Movable or Immovable Object to be Designated as a Cultural Monument
Immovable and movable objects (or collections) are designated cultural monuments by the Ministry of Culture (according to §3 of Act No. 20/1987 Coll., on State Heritage Preservation, as amended). The nominated object should fulfil the criteria set out in §2 of the same Act.
Nomination for designation of an object as a Cultural Monument may be submitted by anyone (except for archaeological finds):
Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic:
- The Ministry of Culture will assess the nomination, and may commence the process of designation as a Cultural Monument.
- If the Ministry decides to commence the process, it will request a statament from the appropriate regional authority and municipality, in some cases also from the National Heritage Institute.
- The nomination will be assessed by a committee at the Ministry, which makes the decision whether or not to proceed with the declaration.
Via the relevant regional branch of the National Heritage Institute:
- The regional branch will assess the nomination, and, if it is considered well-founded, a qualified proposal will be produced.
- The proposal is then assessed by a regional committee, and based on that assessment may be recommended to the Ministry.
Requirements for a nomination of an immovable object be designated as Cultural Heritage:
1. Title, identification of the object (in the case of an ensemble, listing of all parts). The requirements differ depending on whether the land on which the objects are found is to be included as part of the cultural monument):
- Example 1: cotton mill with land lot number 2, in a textile factory complex (in this case, the land will be included as part of the monument).
- Example 2: cotton mill on land lot number 2, in a textile factory complex (in this case, the land will not be part of the monument).
- Example 3: textile factory - administrative building (descriptive number 1), cotton mill, yard, surrounding wall with gate, with lot numbers 1, 2, 15, 254, 562 (the land will be included).
- Example 4: textile factory - administrative building (descriptive number 1) on lot 1, cotton mill on lot 2, warehouse on lot 15, surrounding wall with gate on lot 562 (the land will not be included).
2. Location of the object:
- Region
- District
- Municipality, part of municipality
- Street
- All street numbers (descriptive, orientation, registration)
- Lot numbers of land on which it stands
- Cadastral territory
3. Owner and co-owners including full address. If appropriate, relationship to the object (owner, user, administrator, etc).
4. Brief description of the object
5. Brief description of the structural condition, including any modifications and renovations
6. Character of usage (church, cultural, permanent residence, manufacturing, etc)
7. Current photographic documentation, in the case of a building exterior and interior photos
8. Brief reason for submitting the nomination
9. In the case of a larger ensemble, we recommend attaching a copy of a current cadastral map showing a plot of the nominated monument, or location diagram.
Requirements for a nomination of a movable object to be designated as a Cultural Monument
- Title, identification of the object (in the case of an ensemble, listing of all parts)
- Location of the object (see above - identification of the property on which it is located)
- Owner and co-owners including full address. If appropriate, relationship to the object (owner, user, administrator, etc).
- Brief description of the object or collection (dimensions, materials, technology, etc)
- Brief description of the current technical condition of the object
- Character of usage
- Current photographic documentation, in the case of a collection of photos of each object within the collection
- Brief reason for submitting the nomination
Expert assistance with the writing of a nomination is available on request by any branch of the National Heritage Institute.