Provins, Town of Medieval Fairs

Revision of the ZPPAUP weakening the legal protection of the property

In application of the decision taken during its 34th session by the World Heritage Committee (Brasilia, 2010), the State Party submitted a report on 31 January 2012.

In response to the first request by the Committee to review the decision concerning the revision of the ZPPAUP (Architectural, Urban and Landscape Heritage Protection Zones), the State Party indicates that such a decision falls under the competence of the communes and the State has no legal power to review it. In this case, with regard to the Provins ZPPAUP, the State is unable to review the procedure for revision which was finalised in 2008.

However, the State Party draws attention to the fact that the modified elements of the regulation of this ZPPAUP cannot be applied because the procedure in force requires that the Local Urban Plan (PLU) be in conformity with the ZPPAUP. Whereas, the PLU of Provins, approved by the Municipal Council on 30 June 2008, was cancelled by a judgement of the Administrative Tribunal on 24 November 2011. Consequently, the revision of the ZPPAUP is obsolete.

Furthermore, the State Party informs of the necessarily limited duration of the Provins ZPPAUP due to the 12 July 2010 law that requires the transformation of the ZPPAUPs into architecture and heritage enhancement areas (AVAP) before 15 Juy 2015.

The State Party confirms that it would ensure the preservation of the Outstanding Universal Value of the property and its integrity, in the framework of the transformation of the ZPPAUP into AVAP. In the event that the Mayor of Provins should not wish to transform the ZPPAUP into AVAP, protection levels around the historical monuments (31 December 1913 Law) and sites would be reestablished and would then apply to Provins.

In November 2011, the World Heritage Centre was informed about the project for a wind farm at Châlautre-la-Grande, 9 km from the property. The information was transmitted to the State Party for their comments. In response to this request, and in conformity with the Committee request of 2010 to « provide the World Heritage Centre with detailed information and impact studies of any project affecting the property before granting any irreversible authorization », the State Party indicates that all the State services concerned had issued unfavourable advice with regard to this wind farm project. Moreover, the State Party informs of another wind farm project in Villenauxe-la-Grande, 15 km from Provins. After having received a favourable opinion from the State services, the Commission for Sites and the Investigating Commissioner, the building permit for this project was refused by the Prefects of Seine-et-Marne and the Aube.

In response to the last request of the Committee to submit a detailed report on the state of conservation of the property and the progress achieved in the implementation of the recommendations of the Committee, the State Party informs of a system of financial assistance, established by the city of Provins to a level of 10 to 15% of the cost of the work relating to the façades and roofing viewed from the public area.

The State Party adds that in the framework of a convention between the State and the Town of Provins, concluded in December 2004, 16 million Euros (8 million from the Town and 8 million from the State) are devoted to the restoration of the historic monuments of the Town up until 2013. In this framework, work has been carried out on the curtain wall of the towers B and A, namely « aux Pourceaux » and on the restoration of different parts of the Saint Ayoul Church.

Furthermore, the State Party confirms that it will continue to work on an improved coherence of protection regulations pertaining to the different monuments of the Town.

The State Party also submitted a draft Retrospective Statement of Outstanding Universal Value for this property.

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies take note of the information provided by the State Party concerning the revision of the Architectural, Urban, and Landscape Heritage Protection Zones (ZPPAUP) and the possible transformation of the Provins ZPPAUPs into architecture and heritage enhancement areas (AVAP) before 15 July 2015. They recommend that the World Heritage Committee request the national and local authorities to do their utmost to preserve the Outstanding Universal Value and the attributes conveying this value, and even strengthen them, in the framework of this or any other transformation process of protection regulations concerning the property.

They also take note of the unfavourable advice in respect to the two wind farm projects, as well as progress achieved in the implementation of the Committee recommendations.

They further recommend that the World Heritage Committee request the State Party to keep the World Heritage Centre informed of any project that might have an impact on the Outstanding Universal Value of the property, and if need be, to use ICOMOS “Guidance on heritage impact assessments for Cultural World Heritage Properties”, and to submit a report on any progress made in the implementation of the new regulations replacing the ZPPAUP.