Monument protection: Those who are committed to our cultural heritage

Monument protection in Germany Who is committed to our cultural heritage As of: October 28, 2026 • 12:04 p.m

It's not just the state that cares about monument protection. Private individuals and initiatives are also committed to preserving cultural assets. This brings supporters and critics to the fore.

Not many people have a garden house like this: the Wallrabenstein castle ruins in the Wörsbachtal in Hesse are 14 meters high. The 14th century building is privately owned and stands in Lauren and Dirk Liss' garden, right next to their half-timbered house.

The couple from Hünstetten saved the castle from decay and extensively renovated it - on their own and with the help of funding from the state and the German Foundation for Monument Protection. For this, the castle owners were awarded the “German Prize for Monument Protection” this year.

Lauren and Dirk Liss, owners of Wallrabenstein Castle, use a reconstruction drawing by castle illustrator Wolfgang Braun to show what the castle complex might have looked like around 1450.

A total of ten prizes were awarded. The association “Historische Altstadt Rheine e.V.” has made outstanding contributions to monument protection. He was recognized for preserving a 16th-century walled house. Wool weavers, small craftsmen and butchers lived and worked closely together there, and livestock was also housed here. The association researched the house, raised funding, accompanied the restoration and considered how the building could be used in the future.

“Our concern was that the picture of a city’s history would be more complete if we could also present a house of the “little people” with a 450-year history,” says association member Peter Rohlmann.

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The “German Prize for Monument Protection” honors civic commitment to the protection, care and long-term preservation of German cultural heritage. For Ulrike Wendland, head of the office of the “German National Committee for Monument Protection,” which awards the prize, citizens and their commitment are the “ideal foundation” of monument protection in Germany. Since the 19th century, citizens have had a say in what is cultural heritage for them and should be preserved.

Citizen engagement is also an “extremely important factor” in the acquisition of funds, says the monument conservationist. Funders are more willing to help if there is a high level of civic engagement. At the same time, in Wendland's opinion, civic engagement stands for the acceptance of monument protection among the German population.

However, only a small proportion are citizens at whose instigation potential monuments are examined and ultimately designated. The majority are selected by experts from landscape associations or monument protection authorities. They examine buildings, gardens or bridges, prepare reports and make professional recommendations as to whether an object meets the legal criteria. The municipalities, cities or districts then make the formal decision and enter the objects in the list of monuments.

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The expenditure on monument protection is difficult to estimate. Ulrike Wendland says it is currently not possible to give concrete figures. Money would come from private investors, the EU, foundations and urban development funding. Overall, this would probably amount to hundreds of millions per year. In addition, monument protection is an important economic factor. For example, traditional crafts are used.

Competencies in monument preservation could also be used for modern construction in times of climate change. For example, when it comes to renovating existing buildings, says Wendland. The existing building is modernized without destroying it. In this way, resources should also be conserved. Instead of consuming new energy, so-called “gray energy” is used. This is all the energy that was originally used to build the house.

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Nevertheless, not everyone is enthusiastic about monument protection. The efforts are repeatedly criticized as out of date - by homeowners, investors and also politicians.

For example, the Hessian state government's coalition agreement between the CDU and SPD states: "Historic buildings are identity-forming cultural assets. The Monument Protection Act as a legal framework for the preservation of these buildings is no longer up to date." They therefore want to "amend it with the aim of de-bureaucratizing it, making it more municipal and citizen-friendly and making it easier to use renewable energies, for example, in the monument."

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Ulrike Wendland says the criticism is often about the usability of the land. Because building land is valuable in cities and apartments are scarce. Where there is a listed house, investors could build a multi-story new building complex. In addition, the renovation of listed buildings is expensive and takes a long time. Experts would have to inspect the object and craftsmen would work longer on monument construction sites. In addition, there are many requirements associated with monument protection, says Wendland.

But one thing should not be forgotten: many citizens like to stroll through the historic old towns of Bamberg, Dresden or Zons. And most tourists wouldn't even come if it weren't for the beautifully decorated listed houses.

This topic in the program: WDR 3 | Mosaic | Oct 27, 2026 | 8:10 a.m