WORLD HERITAGE / MANAGEMENT PLAN

The “Holy Trinity Column of Honour” Management Plan is being updated after 6 years, following the retrospective declaration of its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the monument and the confirmation of its extent by the 40th Session of the World Heritage Committee held in Istanbul in 2016. In accordance with the UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, the World Heritage Committee inscribed the Holy Trinity Column in Olomouc on the World Heritage List on 2 December 2000. “The inscription on this List confirms the exceptional and universal value of a cultural or natural monument that is worth protection in the interest of all mankind.” Since the time the original Management Plan had been created, the perception of the heritage Management Plans has been remodelled in general and, furthermore, the Czech Ministry of Culture and the National Heritage Institute have published their methodological recommendations. Moreover, the original version of the plan presumed that it should be updated 5 years after its release. On the basis of these facts, and with a grant aid provided by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic under the “Support to UNESCO Monuments, Priority Axis 1” scheme, the original version has been updated and amended, especially with the emphasis on examining the current condition of the monument since its complete refurbishment between 1999 and 2001, and taking into account the need to determine the optimal form of heritage care (which was a major observation occurring repeatedly in the annual monitoring reports).

The survey of the Column made by the Prague-based Technology Laboratory of the National Heritage Institute shows that the current state of the monument is stabilized and its condition corresponds to the fact that it was completely refurbished 16 years ago and partly cleaned in 2006. Minor repairs have been carried out continuously and meticulously. Consequently, the maintenance and upkeep works were divided into two categories – periodic and non-periodic works. As for regular works, they include annual or bi-annual reviewing and evaluating the current condition of the Column years as well as dry cleaning of its stone parts. Copper statues have to be cleaned and repeatedly conserved once every ten years. Complete restoration will be necessary about once every thirty years. The evaluation of the current condition also suggests that non-periodical intervention – repairs of four damaged statues – is necessary.

In view of the above findings, original Management Plan, declaration of the Outstanding Universal Value of the Holy Trinity Column, and recommendations of the published annual monitoring reports, the basic objectives of the Management Plan have been defined and specific measures necessary to achieve these objectives identified.

The major objectives of the “Holy Trinity Column of Honour” Management Plan are:

• Maintaining and enhancing the exceptional universal value of the Holy Trinity Column for the next generations.
• Slowing down the loss of the original matter (entropy of authenticity).
• Reinforcing the buffer zone protective function.
• Strengthening the awareness of the locals about the Holy Trinity Column and its value; maintaining the nationwide awareness in the same respect.

The necessary measures to achieve the above objectives include the following actions:

• The care of the monument in terms of monitoring and documenting (in particular, ensuring continuous monitoring of the monument; updating the Management Plan and planning documents; creating a digital system for recording and registering the interventions related to the monument, e.g. maintenance, restoration, and presentation);
• The care of the monument in terms of practical maintenance and care (in particular ensuring the necessary upkeep; cleaning, repairs and restoration of both the monument and its immediate vicinity; ensuring the refurbishment of the buildings in the vicinity of the Column; controlling the activities and environment in the Upper Square; protecting the appearance of the ground floors and important vistas and perspectives; regulating numbers of people coming to the Square, including temporary furniture, stalls, etc.);
• The care of the monument in terms of raising the awareness of the value of the monument and its promotion (especially presenting the monument in the context of other cultural monuments, including other columns and fountains, and the City’s important public spaces; organizing a permanent exhibition about the Column; ensuring suitable use of the monument as a symbol for City promotion; creating multi-level educational programmes focused on the value and maintenance of the monument).