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State of Conservation (SOC)

Vilnius Historic Centre (2006)

UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds

Total amount provided to the property: Within the framework of the Revitalization Strategy for Vilnius, UNDP – SPPD provided USD 64,000.

International Assistance granted to the property

Requests Approved: 0 (from1995-2000)
Total Amount Ap proved: 138,180USD

2000   Computer equipment for the OTRA-Information Centre in the Old ...   5,000  USD
2000   Vilnius Old Town Revitalisation Programme (Lithuania)   10,000  USD
1999   Vilnius Old Town Revitalization Programme   0  USD
1999   Old Town Revitalisation Agency - OTRA   20,000  USD
1998   Enhancing of functional capability of public organisations ...   20,000  USD
1998   Old town of Vilnius   19,550  USD
1997   Technical cooperation for the churches of St Bernard and St ...   15,000  USD
1997   Request to Organize a Training Course in Edinburgh Old Town for ...   8,630  USD
1996   Financial assistance to launch the rehabilitation programme of ...   25,000  USD
1995   Restoration strategy for the Old Town of Vilnius   15,000  USD
Missions**

World Heritage Centre project missions 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000; World Heritage Centre site visit May 2005.  

Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports

a) High rise buildings located in vicinity of Vilnius Historic Centre which have an impact on the visual integrity of the site;

b) Demolition of wooden heritage in the construction areas.

Corrective Measures
Current conservation issues

Responding to the concerns expressed by the World Heritage Committee at its 29th session, the Ministry of Culture and the Municipality of Vilnius submitted a joint report dated 27 January 2006 with information on the actions taken to strengthen the existing legislation and cultural heritage protection framework.

The Ministry of Culture initiated a new Law on the Protection of the Immovable Cultural Property which became effective in spring 2005. The Law stipulates more strict requirements whereby the repair, restoration, reconstruction and construction of buildings are regulated. A Plan of Action has been drawn up in close cooperation with the Vilnius Municipality concerning revision of the buffer zone, as well as ensuring better protection of the territories around the Old Town. A draft project for the Vilnius Historic Centre buffer zone has been prepared including the revision of regulations on its protection.

Efforts are also being made to draft legislation and principles that will ensure effective protection, management, monitoring and usage of the World Heritage property.

Regulations on high-rise construction in the Vilnius city centre entitled “The Scheme on the Restriction of High-rise Construction” were approved in January 2004. Following a detailed analysis of the Historic Centre panoramas and visual impact assessment of constructions in the vicinity of the Historic Centre, permission for constructing high-rise buildings has been denied in the areas defined in the Scheme. No new high-rise construction is planned in the buffer zone of the historic centre of Vilnius. Discussions for a Master Plan have started and solutions to issues regarding construction are planned for approval in late 2006.

A “Strategy for Wooden Architecture Heritage Preservation” was commissioned by the Municipality in 2004. Two thousand wooden buildings were examined in Vilnius’ centre and the areas of wooden buildings to be preserved were defined. A plan of action for the preservation of wooden architecture was drawn up and pilot projects for the renewal of these buildings were launched in 2005. A programme for 2006 has been drawn up for wooden buildings in the historical suburbs of Zverynas and Antakalnis.

Conclusion
Decision

  • Adopted

  • Draft Decision

30COM7B.86
Link to the decision

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-06/30.COM/7B,

2. Recalling Decision 29 COM 7B.79, adopted at its 29th session (Durban, 2005),

3. Notes the positive efforts made by the Ministry of Culture and the Municipality of Vilnius during the last two years to strengthen the legal and regulatory framework for heritage conservation, specifically the steps undertaken to address the concerns expressed by the Committee with regard to the high-rise buildings constructed and planned in the vicinity of the historic centre of Vilnius and their visual impact on the World Heritage property;

4. Recalling the provisions of the Vienna Memorandum on "World Heritage and Contemporary Architecture, Managing the Historic Urban Landscape" (2005) to protect historic urban landscapes,

5. Acknowledges the work undertaken to set up a plan of action for the revision of the buffer zone of the property;

6. Notes with appreciation the information provided on the follow-up to the "Strategy for Wooden Architecture Heritage Preservation" adopted in 2004;

7. Notes with great concern the continued lack of integration and co-ordination of initiatives in the heritage and other sectors at both State and local levels which hinder protection efforts for the World Heritage property;

8. Urges the State Party to initiate development of a fully integrated management plan, to govern and co-ordinate all decisions affecting the Old Town development and conservation, through participatory consultation processes over the next two years, and requests the State Party to explore how the Vilnius Old Town Renewal Agency (OTRA) may be given the authority and independence to develop and manage the implementation of such a plan under the shared supervision of the Ministry of Culture and the Office of the Mayor of Vilnius;

9. Further requests the State Party to provide to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2008 a detailed report on the development of an integrated management plan for Vilnius Old Town as described in the recommendations above, including the redefinition of the buffer zone surrounding the historic core, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 32nd session in 2008.

Draft Decision: 30 COM 7B.86

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-06/30.COM/7B,

2. Recalling Decision 29 COM 7B.79, adopted at its 29th session (Durban, 2005),

3. Notes the positive efforts made by the Ministry of Culture and the Municipality of Vilnius during the last two years to strengthen the legal and regulatory framework for heritage conservation, specifically the steps undertaken to address the concerns expressed by the Committee with regard to the high-rise buildings constructed and planned in the vicinity of the historic centre of Vilnius and their visual impact on the World Heritage property;

4. Recalling the provisions of the Vienna Memorandum (May 2005) to protect historic urban landscapes,

5. Acknowledges the work undertaken to set up a plan of action for the revision of the buffer zone of the property;

6. Notes with appreciation the information provided on the follow-up to the “Strategy for Wooden Architecture Heritage Preservation” adopted in 2004;

7. Notes with great concern the continued lack of integration and co-ordination of initiatives in the heritage and other sectors at both State and local levels which hinder protection efforts for the World Heritage property;

8. Urges the State Party to initiate development of a fully integrated management plan, to govern and co-ordinate all decisions affecting the Old Town development and conservation, through participatory consultation processes over the next two years, and requests the State Party to explore how the Vilnius Old Town Renewal Agency (OTRA) may be given the authority and independence to develop and manage the implementation of such a plan under the shared supervision of the Ministry of Culture and the Office of the Mayor of Vilnius;

9. Further requests the State Party to provide to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2008adetailed report on the development of an integrated management plan for Vilnius Old Town as described in the recommendations above, including the redefinition of the buffer zone surrounding the historic core, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 32nd session in 2008.

Vilnius Historic Centre
State Party:
Lithuania
Date of Inscription: 1994
Nomination records (Year): 2007, 2011, 1989
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (ii)(iv)
Exports
Word File
SOC Reports (year)
2011
2009
2008
2006
2005
Threats*
  • Housing
  • Deliberate destruction of heritage
  • Other Threats:
Documents
WHC-06/30.COM/7B
Other Documents:
View inscribed site documents, nomination file, reports, decisions, ...
SOC ID: 1206

* : The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).

** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.