National Heritage Site
Encyclopedia
Tourist attraction
A tourist attraction is a place of interest where tourists visit, typically for its inherent or exhibited cultural value, historical significance, natural or built beauty, or amusement opportunities....
s.
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 heritageCultural heritage
Cultural heritage is the legacy of physical artifacts and intangible attributes of a group or society that are inherited from past generations, maintained in the present and bestowed for the benefit of future generations...
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
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
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
Cultural heritage
Cultural heritage is the legacy of physical artifacts and intangible attributes of a group or society that are inherited from past generations, maintained in the present and bestowed for the benefit of future generations...
. 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
Most countries pass laws to protect national heritage sites, with various classifications for owners. In Europe, many countries uphold the Venice CharterVenice Charter
The Venice Charter for the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and Sites is a treaty that gives an international framework for the preservation and restoration of ancient buildings...
of 1964. The name of the objects protected, and the criteria for protection per country may change over time. : Patrimoni Cultural
Patrimoni Cultural
Patrimoni Cultural refers both to the cultural heritage of Andorra, and also to the Andorran government protection agency called by the same name ....
, Monument d'interès cultural : Burra Charter
Burra Charter
The Burra Charter defines the basic principles and procedures to be followed in the conservation of Australian heritage places.In 1979, the Australia ICOMOS Charter for the Conservation of Places of Cultural Significance was adopted at a meeting of Australia ICOMOS at the historic mining town of...
, Australian National Heritage List
Australian National Heritage List
The Australian National Heritage List is a list of places deemed to be of outstanding heritage significance to Australia. The list includes natural, historic and indigenous places...
: Bundesdenkmalamt
Bundesdenkmalamt
The Bundesdenkmalamt is the name of the Austrian Federal Monuments Office, a department of the Austrian Federal Ministry for Education, Arts and Culture that is responsible for cultural heritage in Austria.-History:...
, Denkmalgeschütztes Objekt
Denkmalgeschütztes Objekt
Denkmalgeschütztes Objekt is the official term used to describe a protected object listed on the Austrian cultural property list as kept by the Federal Monuments Office known as the Bundesdenkmalamt ....
: National Heritage Site (Belarus) : National Heritage Site (Belgium)
National Heritage Site (Belgium)
In Belgium, a National Heritage Site is called Kulturdenkmal, or Beschermd erfgoed, or Biens classés, depending on the region, and refers to objects listed as important to the cultural heritage of Belgium.-Three heritage organizations:...
: National Historic Sites of Canada : Principles for the Conservation of Heritage Sites in China
Principles for the Conservation of Heritage Sites in China
The Principles for the Conservation of Heritage Sites in China is a conservation charter promulgated in 2000 by China ICOMOS with the approval of State Administration of Cultural Heritage...
, National Treasures of China : Spomenik kulture : Národní kulturní památka : Heritage Agency of Denmark
Heritage Agency of Denmark
The Heritage Agency of Denmark is a body under the Danish Ministry of Culture. It has the regulatory responsibility for sites and monuments, listed buildings and State-subsidised museums...
, National Heritage Site (Denmark) : Kultuurimälestised : National Heritage Site (Finland) : Monument historique
Monument historique
A monument historique is a National Heritage Site of France. It also refers to a state procedure in France by which national heritage protection is extended to a building or a specific part of a building, a collection of buildings, or gardens, bridges, and other structures, because of their...
: Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz
Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz
The Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz is a German private initiative founded in 1985 which works for the preservation of cultural heritage in Germany and to promote the idea of cultural heritage management....
, Kulturdenkmal
Kulturdenkmal
Kulturdenkmal is the official term to describe National Heritage Sites listed by law in German speaking areas of Europe, to protect and spread awareness of cultural heritage.-Austria:...
: Heritage conservation in Hong Kong
Heritage conservation in Hong Kong
This article details the history and status of Heritage conservation in Hong Kong, as well as the role of various stakeholders.An indication of the size of the built heritage in Hong Kong is given by a territory-wide survey conducted by the Antiquities and Monuments Office between 1996 and 2000,...
: Archaeological Survey of India
Archaeological Survey of India
The Archaeological Survey of India is a department of the Government of India, attached to the Ministry of Culture . The ASI is responsible for archaeological studies and the preservation of archaeological heritage of the country in accordance with the various acts of the Indian Parliament...
: Heritage Council
Heritage Council
The National Heritage Council is an organisation created by the Irish government to "propose policies and priorities for the identification, protection, preservation and enhancement of the national heritage."...
, National Monument (Ireland)
National Monument (Ireland)
The Irish state has officially approved the following List of National Monuments of Ireland. In the Republic of Ireland, a structure or site may be deemed to be a "National Monument", and therefore worthy of state protection, if it is of national importance...
: Monumento nazionale : National Treasures of Japan
National treasures of Japan
National Treasures are the most precious of Japan's Tangible Cultural Properties, as determined and designated by the Agency for Cultural Affairs...
, Cultural Properties of Japan
Cultural Properties of Japan
As defined by the Japanese government's Agency for Cultural Affairs, the are tangible properties and intangible properties created or developed in JapanDespite the official definition, some Cultural Properties of Japan were created in China, Korea or other...
: Kultūros paminklas : Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed, Rijksmonument
Rijksmonument
A rijksmonument is a National Heritage Site of the Netherlands, listed by the agency Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed acting for the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.-History and criteria:...
: New Zealand Historic places trust
New Zealand Historic Places Trust
The New Zealand Historic Places Trust is a non-profit trust that advocates for the protection of ancestral sites and heritage buildings in New Zealand...
: National Treasures of North Korea
National treasures of North Korea
Designated national treasures of North Korea are tangible artifacts, sites, and buildings deemed to have significant historical or artistic value.-No. 1-50:-No. 51-100:-No. 101-150:-No...
: Kulturminne : Narodowy Instytut Dziedzictwa
Narodowy Instytut Dziedzictwa
Narodowy Instytut Dziedzictwa is a Polish governmental institution responsible for the objects considered most important to the nation's cultural heritage.-Heritage lists:...
, for Zabytek
Zabytek
Zabytek is the Polish name for a National Heritage Site listed by the Polish institute in charge, the Narodowy Instytut Dziedzictwa...
& Pomnik historii : Monumento nacional
Monuments of Portugal
The Monuments of Portugal were constructed throughout the Portuguese territory, and date back to the period of pre-historic settlement of occupation. Subsequently, the region that is today Portugal has been colonized by many civilizations, which have left marks in the territory, constructing...
: Romanian National Institute of Historical Monuments, Monument istoric
Monument istoric
Monument istoric is the Romanian name for a National Heritage Site, which is defined as a work of sculpture or architectural design of large scale or of great cultural heritage value, designed to perpetuate the memory of an event or an outstanding personality.This type of cultural property...
: Russian cultural heritage register
Russian cultural heritage register
The national cultural heritage register of Russia is a data bank of historically or culturally significant man-made immovable properties – landmark buildings, industrial facilities, memorial homes of notable people of the past, monuments, cemeteries and tombs, archaeological sites, and cultural...
, National Heritage Site (Russia): Cultural Heritage of Serbia: Spomenik kulture: National heritage sites (South Africa)
National heritage sites (South Africa)
National heritage sites in South Africa are structures or defined areas of land declared to be of historic or cultural importance and granted certain legal protections...
: National Treasures of South Korea
National treasures of South Korea
The National Treasures of Korea are a numbered set of tangible treasures, artifacts, sites, and buildings which are recognized by South Korea as having exceptional artistic, cultural and historical value...
: Patrimonio histórico español
Patrimonio histórico español
Patrimonio histórico español is a term for Spain's heritage, including National Heritage Sites. The Ministry of Culture has a department, the Subdirección General de Protección del Patrimonio Histórico which maintains a heritage register.The term has a similar meaning to Bien de Interés Cultural ,...
, Bien de Interés Cultural
Bien de Interés Cultural
A Bien de Interés Cultural is a category of the Spanish heritage register. This category dates from 1985 when it replaced the former heritage category of Monumento nacional in order to extend protection to a wider range of cultural property...
: Byggnadsminne: Historic monument (Switzerland)
Historic monument (Switzerland)
In Switzerland, the designation as a historic monument is intended to protect a National Heritage Site such as a monument or a building notable for its history or architecture...
, protected by Kulturgüterschutz, or Protection des biens culturels, or Protezione dei beni culturali: National Monuments Record (England), Listed building: National Heritage Site (United States)
National Heritage Site (United States)
A National Heritage Site in the United States is a location important to the cultural heritage of a particular state that has been promoted to national status, as well as sites that have been deemed nationally important by central heritage agencies....
, National Monument (US), National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
UNESCO World Heritage lists
The UNESCOUNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
keeps a list of heritage sites per country that are considered internationally important. These sites are almost always also on the National Heritage register of the site's country.