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POLAND Evidence That It Provides of the Evolution of the Modern Philosophy and Practice of Restoration and Conservation

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POLAND Evidence That It Provides of the Evolution of the Modern Philosophy and Practice of Restoration and Conservation State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II unique architecture of the Teutonic Order in eastern Europe. It is also of historical significance for the POLAND evidence that it provides of the evolution of the modern philosophy and practice of restoration and conservation. Upon the decision of the Bureau to Castle of the Teutonic Order in recommend inscription, the Delegate of Germany Malbork and the Observer of Poland made statements (see Annex V). Brief description Session (1997): The Committee decided to inscribe This 13th century fortified monastery belonging to this property on the basis of criteria (ii), (iii) and (iv), the Teutonic Order was substantially enlarged and considering that Malbork Castle is the supreme embellished after 1309, when the seat of the Grand example of the medieval brick castle that Master moved here from Venice. A particularly fine characterizes the unique architecture of the example of a medieval brick castle, it later fell into Crusading Teutonic Order in eastern Europe. It is decay, but was meticulously restored in the 19th also of considerable historical significance for the and early 20th centuries. Many of the conservation evidence that it provides of the evolution of the techniques now accepted as standard were evolved modern philosophy and practice of restoration and here. Following severe damage in the Second conservation. World War it was once again restored, using the Following the inscription of these two properties detailed documentation prepared by earlier from Poland, the Observer of Germany conservators. congratulated the Polish Government for the nominations and inscriptions of the Town of Torun 1. Introduction and the Castle of Malbork which are representative of the common history of these two nations and Year of Inscription 1997 which may be regarded as concrete evidence of the increasing spirit of co-operation and friendship. The Agencies responsible for site management Observer of Poland expressed his thanks for the • Malbork Castle Museum inscriptions and thanked the Observer of Germany Starościńska 1 for his kind intervention. 82-200 Malbork e-mail: [email protected] • Statement of Significance does not adequately Web-site: www.zamek.malbork.pl define the outstanding universal value of the site 2. Statement of Significance • Need to seek a decision from the Committee on Inscription Criteria C (ii) (iii) (iv) changes to the statement of significance • Proposal for revised text has not been made by State Party, but change is required ICOMOS evaluation • Brief description of the site is not satisfactory, That this property be inscribed on the World change required Heritage List on the basis of criteria ii, iii, and iv: • Name of the site is not adequate, change Malbork Castle is the supreme example of the required medieval brick castle that characterizes the unique architecture of the Crusading Teutonic Order in Boundaries and Buffer Zone eastern Europe. It is also of considerable historical • Status of boundaries of the site: adequate significance for the evidence that it provides of the • No buffer zone has been defined, further work evolution of the modem philosophy and practice of needed; No need to seek a decision from the restoration and conservation. Committee on changes to the buffer zone Committee Decision Status of Authenticity/Integrity • World Heritage site values have been Bureau (June 1997): The Bureau recommended the maintained Committee to inscribe this site on the World Heritage List on the basis of cultural criteria (ii), (iii) and (iv). Malbork Castle is the supreme example of the medieval brick castle that characterizes the State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II 3. Protection • Art and history museum, historical research institution, educational, culture and conference Legislative and Administrative Arrangements centre • The Malbork Castle was for the first time designated as a historic monument in 1804 Management/Administrative Body • Entry into the Inventory of Monuments of the • Steering group set up in 1961 "Castle buildings complex in Malbork with • Site manager/coordinator on full-time basis delimitation of protection limits and listing the • Levels of public authority primarily involved with plot numbers", issued by the Arts and Culture the management of the site: national, regional Department of the Voivodeship Office in • The current management system is highly Gdańsk, in 1949 effective • Entry into the Inventory of Monuments of the "Area of the Castle and the town of Malbork", issued by the Presidium of the Voivodeship 5. Management Plan National Council in Gdańsk and the • No management plan, preparation will be Voivodeship Inspector of Monuments, in 1959 completed in 09/2006 • "Local Spatial Development Plan for the Town • Responsibility for over-seeing the of Malbork" adopted by a resolution of the implementation of the management plan and Town National Council in 1989 monitoring its effectiveness: Malbork Castle Decree of the President of the Polish Republic • Museum on the designation of "Malbork - the Teutonic Castle complex" as a Memorial of History in 1994 6. Financial Resources • Resolution of the Malbork Town Council on Financial situation adoption of the "Study of conditions and orientations of spatial development for the town • State budget subsidy of around 40% of Malbork" in 1996; "Plan of the Development • Funding for conservation and protection of the of the Town Centre" and "Study of Natural site comes mainly from the Museum's own Conditions for the Local Spatial Development income. The remaining funds (10%) are Plan of the Town of Malbork" have also been acquired from: Polish German Co-operation prepared Foundation, Polish Committee for Scientific • Act on Museums in 1996 Research, Robert Bosch Stiftung, Eachocast, Sponsor Companies • Act on the Protection and Guardianship of Historical Monuments in 2003 • Funding is insufficient • Protection arrangements are considered sufficient 7. Staffing Levels Actions taken/proposed • Number of staff: 151 The Castle Museum has submitted requests to the municipal authorities of Malbork and the region: Rate of access to adequate professional staff • to remove elements distorting the Castle across the following disciplines: panorama from the area surrounding the site • Very good: conservation, management, • to include the construction of a ring road in the interpretation, education town development plans, removing the vehicle • Good: visitor management traffic from the centre of Malbork • Average: promotion • to include the construction of a ring railway route in the regional development plans, 8. Sources of Expertise and Training in moving rail traffic away from the immediate Conservation and Management vicinity of the Castle Techniques • to enforce the ban on military and civil flights over the Castle area • Specialist postgraduate studies for staff employed at the Conservation Department of the Castle Museum in Malbork at the Nicolaus 4. Management Copernicus University in Toruń, Warsaw Use of site/property University and Jagiellonian University in • Visitor attraction Cracow; Expert analyses and consultations by State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II specialists from the Institute of the Science of and meetings, documentaries and TV Historical Works of Art and Conservation programmes, classes and educational activities, Techniques of the Nicolaus Copernicus all devoted to World Heritage issues University in Toruń, Gdańsk Technical • Web site available: www.zamek.malbork.pl University and Academy of Mining and • No involvement of local population in the Metallurgy in Cracow; Specialist conservation management of the site in connection with works are sometimes commissioned from delivering social or other benefits renowned conservation companies 12. Factors affecting the Property (State of 9. Visitor Management Conservation) • Visitor statistics: 451,600 in 2004 (counting the Reactive monitoring reports number of sold tickets for the museum and • N/A other events at the castle) • Visitor facilities: permanent and temporary Conservation interventions exhibitions; sightseeing tours and guides; web- page; three car parks for cars and coaches; • Since the end of December 1997 two hundred tourist information centre; two restaurants and eighty six larger and smaller conservation several seasonal bars; two cafes; conference works have been carried out in the Malbork centre with lecture halls and modern technical Castle complex facilities; shops and stands with printed • Present state of conservation: very good materials and souvenirs; public conveniences; access for the disabled; hotel; ticket boxes; Threats and Risks to site post office; public phones • Ground movements caused by the progressing • Visitor needs: none degradation of the hill on which the Castle is located • Moistness of the lower floors of the Castle 10. Scientific Studies caused by an inefficient drainage system; a full appraisal of the situation and its regulation was • Risk assessment, studies related to the value of started in May 2004 as basis for an action plan; the site, monitoring exercises, condition surveys, archaeological surveys • Vibrations caused by freight trains passing along the railway near the Low Castle; a real • Research related to the use of the Malbork reduction of the negative effects may be Castle in the past, e.g. a study of the operation achieved only after the construction of the of the Grand
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