THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ADVISORY COLLEGE FOR PROTECTING MEDIAEVAL CASTLES IN POLAND

In recent years the conservation milieu has been observing with increasing anxiety assorted investments conducted in mediaeval castles. The introduction of new functions into old walls and ruins is indubitably a fascinating experience for the designers. The reconstruction of ruins may also prove to be a motor force for the development of small localities. Systemic transformations in Poland and accompanying ownership changes affecting this particular group of monuments have vividly revealed the frailty of the existing procedures, the principles of conservation undertakings and, quite possibly, the existing legislation solutions. On 7 December 2007 the head of the National Heritage Board of Poland established a College involving the Commission of Conservation Theory and Military Architecture at the Polish National Committee of ICOMOS, representatives of the academic environments of the Warsaw, Gdansk and Lublin University of Technology as well as Lódz University, together with a representative of the voivodeship conservators of historical monuments and an employee of the National Heritage Board of Poland. The task of the College consists of devising a strategy for the protection of mediaeval castles in Poland. Up to now, it has held three sessions and a seminar combined with a scientific tour of the castles of Little Poland (Cracow, 29- 31 July 2008)