”SMALL TOWNS IN POLISH CULTURAL SPACE” Conference in Cedynia, 20-22 May 2009

Abstract

Aconference organised by the National Heritage Board of Poland with the cooperation of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship Conservator of Historical Monuments on 20-22 May 2009 in Cedynia was entitled ”Small Towns in Polish Cultural Space”. The event was attended by voivodeship conservators of monuments, representatives of the Department for the Protection of Historical Monuments at the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and heads of the Regional Centres for the Documentation and Protection of Historical Monuments. The debates took place in the western wing of the Cistercian convent in Cedynia, rebuilt and adapted for a hotel. The participants spoke about, i. a. local spatial planning and its role in the protection of historical town planning complexes, the principles of formulating correct plans guaranteeing the execution of the law, an attempt at devising a strategy associated with the protection of small historical towns, and town documentation, i.e. an abbreviated historical town planning study. The conference was accompanied by a tour of the historical small towns of Western Pomerania, which enabled the participants to become acquainted with the state of the preservation of mediaeval sacral architecture and town fortifications, the prime threats and causes of damage, and the complex protection of historical town planning space. The topics broached at the conference were a mere foretaste of the extremely complicated protection of historical small towns. The proposal made by the head of the National Heritage Board to continue this theme by presenting its successive aspects met with full approval