Conditions for the Admissibility of Restrictions on the Ownership of Monuments in the Light of the Constitutional and Conventional Standards of Ownership Protection

The issue of restrictions imposed on ownership of a monument is an excellent example illustrating the tension between the unrestricted use of a property and the public interest manifested by the necessity to protect historical monuments. Monuments represent one of the most fundamental elements of the State’s cultural heritage. The protection of this heritage is an element of raison d’état, including the need to foster the memory of the cultural identity of the nation. The aim of the article is to pinpoint the basic problems connected with the balancing of the conflicting values concerning the protection of ownership rights and those regarding the assurance of continuity of the cultural heritage of the State and whole huanity. The Author addresses the issue of monument ownership restrictions from the perspective of the basic standards of ownership protection enshrined in the Polish Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights. The considerations make reference to the notion of a restricted right of ownership (with particular regard to the principle of proportionality) and the problem of compensation for having one’s monument ownership restricted.