The burden of excess. Issues in Unified Management Policy for Gdańsk’s Five Historic Monuments

Historical monuments constitute a prestigious distinction for sites of particular significance to cultural heritage. There are five such sites in Gdańsk, whose management—despite their formal status—still faces various challenges arising from fragmented ownership structures, incomplete local development plans, and a lack of legal instruments and common municipal policy. The example of Gdańsk demonstrates that recognition as a historical monument does not automatically guarantee effective heritage protection. Effective protection requires the coordination of all owners’ actions, which would lead to the establishment of a unified management policy for historical monuments at the local level, ensuring the durability and coherence of the city’s cultural heritage.