State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II

Hora is the result of a complex evolution, in terms of both urban development and architecture. With CZECH REPUBLIC its boundaries clearly demarcated, the town’s setting in the surrounding landscape results in an exceptional appeal of the historical centre’s Kutna Hora: Historical Town panorama. The Sedlec Cathedral, the oldest in Centre with the Church of St , is an architectural treasure located on the Barbara and the Cathedral of Our grounds of the former monastery. Lady at Sedlec (i) Reasons for which the property is considered to meet one or more criteria posed on world heritage: Brief description Re Article 24 para (i) of the UNESCO directives, the Kutná Hora developed as a result of the exploitation historical town of Kutná Hora was during the of the mines. In the 14th century it became a mediaeval period, from the early 14th century to the royal city endowed with monuments that first third of the 16th century, after Prague the symbolized its prosperity. The Church of St second most important centre of the Kingdom of Barbara, a jewel of the late Gothic period, and the Bohemia. This is apparent still today in the town’s Cathedral of Our Lady at Sedlec, which was exceptional wealth of historical architecture, restored in line with the Baroque taste of the early beginning with specimens of the Gothic style. The 18th century, were to influence the architecture of town’s ground plan attests to complex evolution. Its . These masterpieces today form agglomeration of architectures covering a wide part of a well-preserved medieval urban fabric with variety of types and styles forms an exceptionally some particularly fine private dwellings. imposing and compact whole. A good many buildings meet top European heritage standards, representing precious documents of architectural 1. Introduction history, above all covering the various phases of the Gothic and Baroque styles. The Sedlec Year(s) of Inscription 1995 Cathedral, the first of its kind to be built on Agency responsible for site management Bohemia’s territory, simultaneously exemplifies an early heritage preservation project linked moreover • Municipal Authority Kutná Hora with the first grandiose manifestation of Neo-Gothic Havlíčkovo náměstí 552 Baroque architecture. The interiors of many of the 28424 Kutná Hora town’s architectural monuments contain precious e-mail: [email protected] works of art including paintings, sculptures and Website: www.kutnahora.cz applied art objects.

• The National Institute for the Protection and Re Article 24, para (ii), the panorama of historical Conservation of Monuments and Sites Kutná Hora, bordered on the south-western side by Valdštejnské náměstí 3 the imposing Cathedral of St. Barbara, ranks 11801 Praha1 alongside the most impressive sights of its kind. Of e-mail: [email protected] crucial relevance in that sense is the town’s Website: www.npu.cz concentration of its main monumental architectures above a marked rift in the terrain formed by the valley of the Vrchlice brook. Kutná Hora’s 2. Statement of Significance architecture of the Jagiellonian era (1471 - 1526) constitutes an important link in the evolution of the Inscription Criteria C (ii), (iv) late Gothic style in Europe. The Cathedral of St.

Barbara represents a unique work of cathedral Justification provided by the State Party architecture whose construction stretched over a The inner historical town of Kutná Hora within the period from the late 14th through the first half of the limits of the urban heritage reserve, plus the 16th centuries, Benedikt Ried’s share in the Convent Church of the former Cistercian Monastery building of St. Barbara’s was broadly echoed in at Sedlec as part of the urban agglomeration of terms of influence throughout Central Europe. Kutná Hora, which are being suggested for The Sedlec Cathedral is a living document of the inclusion in the World Heritage List, meet the brilliance attained by Cistercian architecture at the criteria of UNESCO directives in the sense of turn of the 13th and 14th centuries, as well as Article 29 para (ii). The historical centre of Kutná testimony to an early heritage conservation project State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II carried out at the turn of the 17th and 18th historical urban housing compounds anywhere else centuries, and the first monumental-scale example in the Czech Republic. Of particular interest are of Gothic-style Baroque architecture designed by their Mediaeval vaulted interiors, Thanks Giovanni Santini. exclusively to the institution of the urban heritage reserve in Kutná Hora have these objects been Re Article 24, para (iii), the historical centre of protected from the perils of utilitarian adaptation. Kutná Hora is literally permeated with evidence of Kutná Hora’s historical residential complex amounts the long-vanished Mediaeval silver mining industry. to an exquisite document of the housing conditions At the time of their inception and Mediaeval of the town’s inhabitants in its heyday as the silver- operation, the town’s mines ranked alongside the mining centre of the realm during the 15th and 16th world’s largest. In all, those early compounds, centuries. which were centred around a pit called Osel, occupied an area of several square kilometres, Re Article 24, para (vi), Kutná Hora is a town of reaching as deep as 450 metres under the surface. great historical renown. It was there that King The most interesting surviving remnant of Wenceslas II launched a coinage reform which mediaeval mining is St. George’s Gallery whose introduced the Prague , a unit which was 250-metre-long section is open to visitors, as part of to stay in existence for a long time as one of the installations of the Kutná Hora Museum. The Europe’s most prestigious currencies and which historical mines are protected under Government laid foundations to the immense wealth of Decree on Heritage Reserve, of 1961. Bohemia’s kings, the realm as a whole and the town of Kutná Hora in particular. The Kutná Hora Apart from the historical mines, the whole area of coinage reform was doubtless directly linked with the town constitutes a living depository of material Bohemia’s short-term acquisition of the Kingdom of evidence of earlier settlement including remains of Poland and, shortly thereafter, the Kingdom of buildings, largely in the form of Gothic stone cellars Hungary. underneath Kutná Hors’s gardens and public grounds. The area occupied by Kutná Hora Unparalleled anywhere else in Western deserves a priority archaeological rating. Christendom has been the status of the grand Anticipated future surveys are likely to unearth Cathedral of St. Barbara, in that it was set up several ruined Romanesque churches, notably without a specific ecclesiastic function, purely as a’ underneath the Sedlec Cathedral, the site of the monument to the town’s endeavour for the supreme foundations of the original convent church dating manifestation of its artistic and cultural aspirations. from the second third of the 12th century. The town played an important historical role during Re Article 24, para (iv), located within the borders the Hussite Wars, and was throughout the Middle of the historical town and in its proximity are two Ages one of the foremost centres of art in the monumental cathedrals, both of which are of . On the whole, Kutná Hora exceptional interest in terms of both ground-plan can be ranked as Bohemia’s second most concept and architectural design. The Cathedral of important historical centre, immediately after St. Barbara is the product of gradual, highly varied Prague. dynamic evolution that lasted from the late 14th century until the first half of the 16th century, As provided in ICOMOS evaluation featuring highly remarkable vaulting systems and That this property be inscribed on the World an interior furnished with an immense wealth of art Heritage List on the basis of criteria (ii) and (iv): objects. The Sedlec Cathedral has its most impressive feature in its blend of the original In its urban fabric and its buildings Kutná Hora architectural conception dating from the turn of the constitutes an outstanding example of a medieval 13th and 14th centuries, and elements town whose wealth and prosperity was based on its supplemented during a major restoration and silver mines. As a result it was endowed with many redesigning project carried out during the high buildings of high architectural and artistic quality, Baroque era. Beyond that, Kutná Hora boasts an notably the Church of St Barbara, which had a imposing number of architecturally varied and profound influence on subsequent developments in interesting smaller churches, public buildings and the architecture of central Europe. Its stock of well merchant houses, most of which date from the late conserved domestic buildings is also of great Gothic period and feature high-Baroque significance, since they illustrate the social and adaptations. economic parameters that distinguish settlements of this kind exceptionally well. Re Article 24, para (v), Kutná Hora’s late-Gothic merchant houses are superior in value to similar State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II

Committee Decision • The protection arrangements are considered sufficiently effective The Committee decided to inscribe the site under criteria (ii) and (iv) as an outstanding example of the medieval town whose wealth and prosperity 4. Management was based on its silver mines. The Church of Saint Use of site/property Barbara and other buildings were underlined as having particular architectural and artistic quality • Urban centre, religious use, visitor attraction

and as having had a profound influence on Management /Administrative Body subsequent developments in the architecture of • Plans to establish a steering group in 2006 Central Europe. • Plans to appoint Coordinator

• Levels of public authority who are primarily • Statement of significance adequately defines involved with the management of the site: the outstanding universal value of the site regional; local • No change required • The current management system is sufficiently

Boundaries and Buffer Zone effective

• Status of boundaries of the site: adequate Actions proposed: • Buffer zone: adequate • Establishment of steering group, coordinator

and elaboration of the management plan; Status of Authenticity/Integrity • Continuation of elaborating the town-planning • World Heritage site values have been documentation. maintained

3. Protection 5. Management Plan Legislative and Administrative Arrangements • No management plan • Law No. 20/1987 Coll. deals with the problems • Management plan under preparation, for of the protection of cultural monuments and completion and adoption by 06/2007 monument protected areas • Responsibility for over-seeing the • Decree of the Ministry of Education and Culture implementation of the management plan and No. 16 417/87-VI/1 - declaration of historic monitoring its effectiveness: Municipal Authority centres of some towns Municipal Conservation Kutna Hora Areas of August 31, 1961 • Decision on the establishment and declaration 6. Financial Resources of the buffer zone of the Municipal Conservation Area of October 11, 1982 Financial situation • Declaration of the Church of St. Barbara and • Estate management is part of the all-town the Italian Court a National Cultural Monument budget and as such the funds for the estate • Regulations for potential new built-up areas management are not separated. and determining the main principles of possible • Subsidy programmes from the Ministry of advancement and development of the Culture (the Programme of Regeneration of settlement, established through a zoning plan Municipal Conservation Areas and Municipal of the town since 1994, elaborated Conservation Zones, Programme of Rescue of subsequently in 2001 Architectonic Heritage, Emergency Programme, • Programme of regeneration of the town, Programme of Restoration of Movable Cultural elaborated in 1992 and approved by the Monuments) Municipal Authority in 1993. The latest updating • Sufficient was approved by the Municipal Authority on November 25, 2004 as the detailed plan for 7. Staffing Levels 2004-2010 • The strategic plan of development of the town, • Number of staff: 30, as well as volunteer providing long-term coordination of public and assistance in publicity and cultural private activities of the demographic, economic, undertakings and work of professional social, cultural and ecological character in the commissions and action committees territory of the town State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II

Rate of access to adequate professional staff • Visitor facilities: tourist information centre, across the following disciplines: information system on the streets of the town, • Good: conservation, management, museums, galleries, accommodation, shops interpretation, visitor management • Average: promotion; education 10. Scientific Studies

• Studies related to the value of the site; 8. Sources of Expertise and Training in monitoring exercises; condition surveys; Conservation and Management archaeological surveys; transportation studies; Techniques tourism marketing analysis • Complex monument care through professional • Results used as background materials in the service from the National Institute for the elaboration of the town and regulatory plan and Protection and Conservation of Monuments and for the preparation of the strategic plan of Sites including assistance regarding development of the town. They will also be architecture, urbanism, care for historic verdure, used in the creation of the management plan archaeology, care for movable monuments. according to the operational guidelines for the The technological laboratory of the National implementation of the World Heritage Institute for the Protection and Conservation of Convention of 2005 Monuments and Sites in Prague provides specialized investigations 11. Education, Information and Awareness • Documentation centre of the Foundation Kutná Building Hora – a UNESCO Monument with the support of the Municipal Authority containing the • An adequate number of signs referring to World archives of documentation and investigations Heritage site • Czech Museum of Silver with professional • World Heritage Convention Emblem used on workers and the State District Archives some publications • National Institute for the Protection and • Adequate awareness of World Heritage among: Conservation of Monuments and Sites in visitors, local communities, businesses, local Prague and the Faculty of Architecture of the authorities Czech Technical College in Prague offer • Joint presentation and publicity: “The Czech specialized educational programmes in the field UNESCO Heritage” at tourism fairs of monument care • Travelling exhibition: “UNESCO Czech • Professional assistance from the National Monuments”, under the auspices of the Ministry Committee ICOMOS, universities, the Academy of Foreign Affairs at Czech embassies abroad of Sciences of the Czech Republic • Celebration of 10 years of inscription of the • Extramural courses of the monuments care in town into the World Heritage List through an the National Institute for the Protection and exhibition on the building development of the Conservation of Monuments and Sites in monument in recent years Prague • In cooperation with the Association of UNESCO • Publishing of methodological materials of the associated schools, an information brochure on National Institute for the Protection and the UNESCO World Heritage is available Conservation of Monuments and Sites which • Kutnohorské stříbření - a ceremony in aim to unify procedures in the preparation and costumes evoking the atmosphere of the most assessment of the undertakings of repair and famous period of the town, with accompanying restoration of cultural monuments programmes • Professional seminars, workshops and other • Concert Week - organ concerts in the Church of professional unrepeated events are organized St. Barbara oriented at particular subjects from the field of • Kutnohorské bienále - international guitar the monuments care, repair of building objects competition and restoration of works of art • Ius regale montanorum - a ceremony and professional seminars on the occasion of the anniversary of 700 years of the mining code, in 9. Visitor Management 2000 • Visitor statistics: estimated at 200,000 in 2004 • Website: www.kutnahora.com • Trend: slightly increasing State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II

• Local participation: local inhabitants influence area of the Jesuit college, part of municipal the estate management by the election of the moat, the locality of the former Cistercian municipal board of representatives and monastery in Sedlec participate in the process of strategic planning. • Present state of conservation: very good The public also participates in the discussing of development plans and gives opinion on the Threats and Risks to site problems of town planning • Development pressure

12. Factors affecting the Property (State of 13. Monitoring Conservation) • Formal monitoring programme in place Reactive monitoring reports • Continuous monitoring by the National Institute • N/A for the Protection and Conservation of Monuments and Sites Centre, performed Conservation interventions regularly since 1999. Each year reports are • Repair of the majority of burghers' houses: elaborated on the condition of the monument Repairs of houses land-registry Nos. 29 and 30 that are discussion. Social-economic indicators in Barborská street; land-registry Nos. 64 and are also monitored and assessed by the Town 122 at Rejsek Square; land-registry Nos. 170 Development Institute in Brno and 171 in Šultysova street; the former • Key indicators: panorama of the town with the municipal hospital land-registry No. 228 at main dominants, its possible changes or Pirknerovo Square; the former District Authority impairment; the linking up landscape framework land-registry No. 178 and house land-registry of the town, its preservation or possible No. at Václavské Square; land-registry Nos. changes; urban structure, its preservation and 521 and 543 at Jánské Square; land-registry possible further development; development of No. 488 in the street U Jelena public areas and municipal; development of the • Repairs to monuments in the town including: so-called roof landscape; the authenticity of the Church of St. Barbara: - repair of the roof truss historic building and monuments fund with new roofing of original slate, extensive static securing, restoration of the supporting 14. Conclusions and Recommended system and restoration of the stone-sculptural Actions decoration. Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Sedlec: - static securing of the • Main benefits of WH status: Conservation, building, repair of the roof truss, complete Social, Economic restoration of the interior. Italian Court: - overall • Strength/Weaknesses of management: lack of repair, especially the roof, the plaster of management plan façades, windows, restoration of the stone- sculptural decoration. Stone fountain: - overall Future actions: restoration. Chapel of the Corpus Christi: - • Creation of a management plan according to secured and repaired completely, prepared for the Operational Guidelines for the use in occasional exhibitions. Stone House: – Implementation of the World Heritage restoration of stone façade, repairs to roof. Convention of 2005 Church of St. John of Nepomuk: - restoration of the interior. Church of the Virgin Mary Na Náměti: - repair of the roof of the tower. Hrádek: - overall restoration of the monument, including repair of the facades. Chapel of the Holy Heart of Our Lord at the Nunnery of St. Ursula: - overall construction repair and complete restoration of the interior. Column of the Virgin Mary in Šultysova street: - overall restoration and securing of the monument. Gallery of Baroque sculptures in front of the Jesuit college: - securing and restoration • Archaeological investigations at: Anenské Square, Komenského Square, Jánské Square,