Pierre Nora’s "Sites of Memory" and the Social Aspect of Issues in Built Heritage Conservation

The following article addresses the usefulness of Noraʼs concept of a ʻsite of memoryʼ for the preservation and interpretation of those historic buildings and structures which already enjoy legal protection as monument. First, the denotations of Pierre Noraʼs notion of lieux de mémoire and Alois Rieglʼs concept of a Denkmal (or monument) are juxtaposed. Second, the paper presents the methodological problems involved in studying sites of memory, and offers guidelines inspired by Aleida and Jan Assmanʼs works on cultural memory. Third, these theoretical notions are then related to practical experience gathered while completing a project devoted to “Church of Peace in Jawor as a site of memory”; insights from the project lead to conclusions regarding the possibility of studying the social aspects of built heritage conservation. The conclusion of the paper identifies the characteristics and features of lieux de mémoire which may assist in the identification of places of memory from the perspective of heritage protection.