Section II: Summary of the Periodic Report on the State of Conservation, 2006
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State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II As provided in ICOMOS evaluation LITHUANIA Action by ICOMOS At the request of the World Heritage Centre, Vilnius Historic Centre ICOMOS nominated an expert to visit Vilnius in January 1994. Professor Panu Kaila (President, ICOMOS Finland) spent a week there, holding Brief description many discussions with those responsible for Political centre of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania management, conservation and restoration as well from the 13th to the end of the 18th century, Vilnius as carrying out a detailed examination of the has had a profound influence on the cultural and historic centre. architectural development of much of Eastern Qualities Europe. Despite invasions and partial destruction, it has preserved an impressive complex of Gothic, To quote Professor Kaila’s report, “the historic Renaissance, Baroque and classical buildings as centre of Vilnius is a rich collection of buildings from well as its medieval layout and natural setting. different ages and full of everyday life . Personally I am convinced that [it] has an outstanding universal value, that it sufficiently 1. Introduction meets the test of authenticity, and that it merits to Year(s) of Inscription 1994 be nominated to the World Heritage List.” Having studied the documentation provided by the State Agency responsible for site management Party and Professor Kaila’s report, ICOMOS fully • Vilnius City Municipality concurs with this view. Konstitucijos pr. 3 Comparative analysis LT-09601 Vilnius e-mail: [email protected] Vilnius forms part of the extensive network of website: www.vilnius.lt medieval and early modern trading towns that stretch from Ireland to Russia. It is of special importance in that it is situated in the pivotal trading 2. Statement of Significance area of the Baltic States. The only comparable Inscription Criteria C (ii), (iv) towns in this region are Tallinn (Estonia) and Cracow (Poland). However, Tallinn is significantly Justification provided by the State Party different, in that it is a seaport and also because of its important role in the Hanseatic League. It thus The Vilnius Old Town as a historical city conforms followed a different historical and cultural trajectory to the category of the historical cities of the world from Vilnius which is manifested in its present-day cultural heritage (ii), as an exceptional universal form. Cracow has more similarities with Vilnius, but cultural value, which has accumulated in itself the its history and urban fabric demonstrate significant peculiarities of the town's development since the differences, due to its divergent historical and 13th century up to the present days, the town, cultural evolution. which has the population of nearly 27 ths. of inhabitants, and the attempts to preserve it during At its 14th Meeting in June 1990 the Bureau of the the period of forty years present a real possibility for World Heritage Committee referred this nomination its survival. back to the Soviet authorities to provide additional information on the town planning schemes which The Vilnius Old Town in respect to its historical and exist in the immediate vicinity of the historic centre cultural value can be compared to the Old Town of and called upon ICOMOS to provide an additional the Polish city Cracow. Both towns in their historical evaluation of the property. This information has past performed the functions of two capitals in the been provided and has been evaluated by ICOMOS Rzecepospolita. Vilnius is also one of the most (see above, “Action by ICOMOS”). ICOMOS has significant consequences of the culture of the Balts also had the opportunity to study the additional data and its interlacement with the traditions of other provided by the Lithuanian authorities in September European countries. Besides, Vilnius has made a 1994. great impact on Byelorussia, the Ukraine and Poland and was highly important to them. Recommendation That this property be inscribed on the World Heritage List on the basis of criteria ii and iv: State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II Criterion (ii) Vilnius is an outstanding example of a Status of Authenticity/Integrity medieval foundation which exercised a profound • Integral character of authenticity of the World influence on architectural and cultural heritage Site has been changed, which is developments in a wide area of Eastern Europe historic centre of a living city over several centuries. • Foreseen reconstruction of several former historic areas destroyed during the WWII Criterion (iv) In the townscape and the rich diversity of buildings that it preserves, Vilnius is an exceptional illustration of a Central European town 3. Protection which evolved organically over a period of five Legislative and Administrative Arrangements centuries. • Vilnius Old Town (the World Heritage site) Regeneration Project; Rules for the Committee Decision Maintenance and Construction in Vilnius Old Town; Special Vilnius Old Town Plan; Vilnius Bureau (1990): The Bureau referred this file back to Old Town Preservation Regulations; the the Soviet authorities to provide, before the next conceptual part (Summary Protected session of the Committee, additional information on Properties’ Plan, Landplots, Landuse and the town planning schemes which exist in the Maintenance and Construction Regulations immediate vicinity of the historic centre, until such Plan) of the Old Town Detailed plan; urban time as ICOMOS has provided an additional analysis of Vilnius City Centre evaluation of this property. • The protection arrangements are considered Bureau (December 1994): The Bureau recalled that sufficiently effective the Historic Centre of Vilnius was nominated by the USSR and examined by the Bureau at its 4. Management fourteenth session. The Bureau referred this nomination back requesting additional information Use of site/property on the town planning schemes which existed in the • Urban centre immediate vicinity of the historic centre. After Lithuania became an independent state it signed Management /Administrative Body the World Heritage Convention in 1992. The • Steering group: Supervision Council of Vilnius Lithuanian authorities then renewed the process of Old Town Renewal Agency was set up to nomination and provided the additional information suggest on priorities and principles of requested. implementation of Vilnius Old Town Revitalisation Program ICOMOS informed the Bureau that it considered the • Formally constituted protective legislation for the nominated site and a • Management under protective legislation wide area surrounding it adequate but that the only • No site manager reservation it had was that the private owners do • Levels of public authority who are primarily not have the obligation to maintain and restore their involved with the management of the site: properties. The Bureau recommended that the national, local World Heritage Committee inscribe the property • The current management system is sufficiently under criteria (ii) and (iv). effective • Statement of significance by ICOMOS adequately defines the outstanding universal 5. Management Plan value of the site • Management plan is being implemented • State Party has not stated if the ICOMOS text is • Implementation commenced: December 2003 considered to be the official statement of • Adequate significance • Responsibility for over-seeing the • UNESCO official description of site should be implementation of the management plan and improved; State Party has provided suggestion monitoring its effectiveness: Department of Cultural Heritage at the Ministry of Boundaries and Buffer Zone Culture, Vilnius Municipality, State Cultural • Status of boundaries of the site: adequate Reserve of Vilnius Castles; Vilnius Old Town • Buffer zone: a buffer zone has been defined Renewal Agency State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II 6. Financial Resources • Visitor facilities: There are two municipal tourism information centers within the historic Financial situation centre – the World Heritage site; information • Ministry of Culture; Vilnius municipality's boards and guideposts have been installed Cultural Heritage Division; State Cultural since 2002; historic centre two viewing sites Reserve of Vilnius Castles; Vilnius Old Town were installed in 2004 and other two are Renewal Agency planned to be installed in the near • Extra funding has been drawn from World future; special guide bus is offering the tour Heritage status within and around the historic • An NGO Vilnius Old Town Renewal Agency centre; municipality supports small private (OTRA) was founded by Vilnius Municipality in galleries promoting traditional crafts and arts in 1998 for preparation and coordination of the the historic centre Old Town–World Heritage site’s Revitalisation • Tourism/visitor management plan (National Program level: www.tourism.lt; Municipal: www.Vilnius.lt; • National and/or regional projects of UNDP, the Tourism association: www.ltas.lt) World Bank or other agencies; Bi-lateral cooperation; ICCROM, OWHC, European Commission, Danish and Norwegian 10. Scientific Studies Governmental Funds • Studies related to the value of the site, • Funding available for the adequate monitoring exercises, archaeological surveys, management of the site: insufficient transportation studies • Urban and architectural studies are used for 7. Staffing Levels preparation of Vilnius Old Town Detail Plan and for the update of Vilnius Old Town (the World