Presented during the VIVA EAST Thematic Seminar on Intangible Heritage, Cahul, Republic of Molvova, Sept. 2012 Author: Francesco Rotondo

1. Examples on
Intangible Heritage’s
contribution to rural
local development:
EU practices.
F r a n c e s c o R O T O N D O

2. The concept of Intangible Heritage
The intangible heritage, as a living mirror of cultures
and their Interactions, has frequently been held in
higher esteem by the Population than the tangible
heritage which may be farther Removed from their
existence than its intangible equivalent.
(Koichiro Matsuura, UNESCO General Director, International Conference
Safeguarding of tangible and Intangible Cultural heritage: toward an Integrated
Approach, Nara, 2004)
• “UNESCO Convention on Intangible Heritage”
• “Declaration on Cultural Diversity”

3. The concept of Intangible Heritage
• The term patrimoine cultural immatériel is a
french translation of a japanese law of 1948,
then we have had the english translation
“Intangible Heritage”.
• See “Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties,
Cultural Properties Protection Department Agency for
Cultural Affairs”, Government of Japan , 1948.

4. The concept of Intangible Heritage
• In the International Conference of Jamoto, Japan, in 2004,
UNESCO changes its criteria to select the tangible and
intangible heritage to protect and hinance.
• The iii Criteria of UNESCO Convention on Intangible Cultural
heritage declares: to bear a unique or at least exceptional
testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is
living or which has disappeared; outstanding universal
significance, considers that this criterion should be
preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria.
• This is the choice for an integrated approach to the
safeguarding and valorization of Cultural Heritage.

5. The concept of Intangible Heritage
• Analising the articles of Jamoto Convention, we see that
the article 4 establish the same value for tangible
(cultural, architectural, natural) and intangible heritage;
• Art. 9 write that there few examples of intangible
heritage which aren’t related to a place or an object as
there are few values associeted to a monument or to an
historical site that aren’t considered an intangible
heritage.
• Art. 11 explicitly recall the interdipendence between
tangible and intangible heritage … and the necessity to
have an integrated approach to the safeguard and
promotion of these heritages for the benefit of
copmmunities.

6. The concept of Intangible Heritage
• The central role given to the integration between
tangible and intangible heritage and to cultural and
social heritage more in general conduct to a relevant
change in the concept of the safeguarding because it
moves from the safeguarding of a single monument to
an historical centre and then to a traditional and
historical environment.
• A traditional and historical environment is every group
of buildings or spaces (also including archaeological
sites, or every rural or urban settlement) which have a
recognised archaeological, historical, prehistorically,
aesthetic and socio-cultural value. Récommandation UNESCO
sur la Conservation des Paysages Urbains Historiques

7. The concept of Intangible Heritage
• Historical centres and territories in which are included
with their communities become fundamental and
undivisible concepts.
• The key idea is building a territorial cultural system.
The identification of a territorial cultural system is based on multiple aspects:
– Economical and geographical,
– paesaggistici e ambientali,
– storico-culturali,
– tradizioni culturali
– prodotti del territorio
– Artigianato
– risorse gastronomiche tradizionali.

8. A case of study – La Région Bretagne
Soutenir les actions de valorisation et
d’interprétation du patrimoine en Cités labellisées
After a regional plan for economic development and a regional plan to
promote agriculture, the Region has “labelled” cities caracterised by
certain criteria:
1. Petites Cités de Caractère (PCC),
2. Communes du Patrimoine Rural de Bretagne (CPRB),
3. Ville, Métropole et Pays d'Art et d'Histoire et Villes historiques,
4. Les Cités d’Art de bretagne.
(http://www.cprb.org; http://www.cites-art.com)

9. 1) Small Towns of Character (PCC)

10. A case of study – La Région Bretagne
1) Small Towns of Character (PCC) - goals
• Support investment and aesthetic enhancement of
public or private property items visible public space,
located in the influence area of the protection of
architectural, urban and landscape (ZPPAUP - Zone de
protection du patrimoine architectural, urbain et
paysager) or listed as priorities in the plan heritage
planning (PAP - plan d’aménagement patrimonial).
• Support recovery efforts through the establishment of
asset identification circuits or heritage interpretation.
• Supporting studies definition of heritage management
plan (PAP) required since January 2010..

11. 1) Small Towns of Character (PCC)

12. A case of study – La Région Bretagne
2) Municipalities of Rural Heritage of Bretagne (CPRB) -
goals
• Support investment and aesthetic enhancement of
heritage elements visible from public or private public
space identified in the study Label (in center town or
area in a village remarkable diffuse) or listed as priorities
in the plan heritage planning (PAP).
• Support recovery efforts through the establishment of
asset identification circuits or heritage interpretation.
• Supporting studies definition of heritage management
plan (PAP) required since January 2010.

13. A case of study – La Région Bretagne
Une trentaine de communes portent le label "Communes du Patrimoine Rural de Bretagne" et mettent en commun leur
volonté de sauvegarde, de mise en valeur et d'animation de leur patrimoine architectural et paysager. Des circuits de
randonnées pour les uns, des balades champêtres pour les autres vous feront découvrir les bourgs et les villages de
caractère de nos communes...

14. A case of study – La Région Bretagne
Save and enhance the value
Enhance the Awareness of population about
the protection and restoration of cultural
heritage.
Develop and promote
Encourage any new activity that will ensure
economic development, tourism and culture.
Inform and animate
Develop interpretation circuits, tours and
entertainment managed by the hinabitants or
their groups and associations

15. A case of study – La Région Bretagne
City, Country and Metropolitan of Art and
History, Historic Cities –
goals
• Support investment and aesthetic
development and heritage interpretation.
• Support the development of heritage studies,
across the entire town.

16. A case of study – La Région Bretagne
3) Ville, Métropole et Pays d'Art et d'Histoire et
Villes historiques

17. A case of study – La Région Bretagne
4) Les Cités d’Art de bretagne

18. Thanks for your patient attention
Multumesc mult
Francesco Rotondo
Department of Civil Engineer and Architecture,
Polytechnic of Bari, Technical University (Italy)
www.poliba.it
e-mail: f.rotondo@poliba.it;