OCHRONA DZIEDZICTWA KULTURY WE FRANCJI

A suitable conception of the legal aspects of protecting cultural heritage poses a considerable challenge. While discussing pertinent Polish legislation, it is worth referring to the examples of solutions applied in other countries. On 20 February 2004 France introduced 'Code du patrimoine' - a new regulation relating to the protection of cultural property. The code replaced six previously binding regulations, with the legislator recognising the protection of national heritage as a fundamental state task. The resultant complex regulation can be considered an example for other European countries, including Poland. Regardless of particular regulations, the most important achievement appears to be the endowment of supreme rank to the protection of culture by including it within the code. This choice not only produced the complex character of the legal act, but predominantly placed cultural heritage at the pinnacle of tasks pursued by the state, thus confirming the fulfilment of the latter's mission associated with the protection of the titular heritage.