A file of the architectural monuments of Polotsk is directed to the centre of world heritage of UNESCO.For inclusion into the honorary List are offered Spaso-Preobrazhenskaya church of Polotsk Spaso-Evfrosinievskiy monastery, Sofijskiy cathedral, and also historical territories, which, as well as architectural monuments, are connected with the name of an orthodox saint Evfrosinia Polotskaya.
The offer on unification of several architectural and historical monuments of Polotsk into one nomination and their introduction into the UNESCO List emanated from the experts of this world organization. In 2003 they got acquainted with the Sofijskiy cathedral, an architectural monument of the middle of the XIth — middle of the XVIIIth centuries, and the Spaso-Preobrazhenskaya church of Spaso-Evfrosinievskiy monastery — the monument of architecture and monumental painting of the XIIth century, which are on the territory of a preservation of the National Polotsk historical and cultural museum-reservation.
In the work on the file preparation for inclusion of cultural values of Polotsk into the List of world heritage took part the scientific members of Polotsk National historical and cultural museum-reservation, scientists-historians, archivists, painters-restorers, specialists on monument conservation and clergymen. In compliance with international requirements to world cultural values on the basis of a current preservation of the historical centre of the city were specified the territories of the monuments and a buffer zone, joining both monuments. In the near future separate sections of the General development plan of Polotsk will be reconsidered and regulations of planning and economic activity in the historical zones were worked out.
Into the List of the world heritage are included four objects, situated on the territory of Belarus — Belovezhskaya puscha (together with Poland — an object of environmental heritage), a Castle complex “Mir”, “Architectural and cultural complex of the residence of Radzivilly in Nesvizh”, and also one of the objects of Duga Struve. In compliance with the cultural development program till 2012 is planned the preparation of five more files of the objects of historical and cultural heritage of Belarus for submission to the UNESCO. The file on Avgustovsky Canal has already been prepared. Nominations “Wooden architecture of Polesye” and “Cultic architecture of Belarus of defense type are planned to the preparation, the main objects of which are situated in Vitebsk, Gomel and Grodno regions.
As it is known, the list of the world and cultural heritage of UNESCO counts more than 800 objects. Availability of monuments of this or that country in it increases international prestige of the state and bears economic benefits in the result of attractiveness of these objects for the tourists.
Irina Trofilova
