Advice and information on monument law

Jena has a diverse landscape of monuments which has grown over centuries. At present, more than 300 individual buildings, garden monuments, technical monuments and monuments of artistic culture can be found in the current list of monuments. The monument list is an excerpt from the monument book of the Free State of Thuringia. This is updated and is subject to change with additions and disposals. The monument list of the city of Jena is provided in the form of a map with legend in the download.

In addition, there are numerous ground monuments and monument ensembles, some of which comprise up to 250 individual objects.

In order to preserve the monument status of this rich inventory and at the same time to ensure an appropriate, contemporary use, it makes sense for owners to contact the lower monument protection authority at an early stage in the case of repair and alteration projects, but also in the case of questions regarding preservation.

Cultural monuments

The lower monument protection authority keeps an excerpt from the monument book of the Free State of Thuringia kept by the Thuringian State Office for the Preservation of Monuments and Archaeology for the city of Jena.

As far as available, data on the monument status and the history of the cultural monuments can be made available to the public in compliance with data protection.

An object becomes a cultural monument if it fulfils the legal characteristics of a cultural monument. Because the Free State of Thuringia (like most of the federal states) follows the information system, no administrative act is required in Thuringia for the legally binding determination of the monument status, as this by law (lat. "ipso iure") exists.

The legal consequence "protection of monuments" is thus brought about by the legal definition itself. DBy this it is possible that also so far undiscovered or not recognized ground monuments, buildings and plants are under monument protection.

As for those recorded in the register of monuments, the free disposal of property guaranteed by the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany is also restricted, irrespective of the knowledge of the respective owner. The social obligation of property is activated by the monument status.

Depending on the information requested, it may be necessary to submit appropriate documentation in the form of plans, photographs and descriptions. Files relating to ongoing proceedings cannot be made accessible to uninvolved third parties.

For copies, expenses, etc., fees are charged in accordance with the Thuringian General Administrative Cost Regulations (ThürVwKostO).

• Thuringian Monument Protection Act (ThürDSchG) - Thuringian law for the care and protection of cultural monuments in the version published on 14 April 2004 last amended by Article 1 and Article 2 of the Thuringian Administrative Reform Act 2018 (ThürVwRG2018) on 18 December 2018.
• Monument register of the Free State of Thuringia
• List of monuments of the city of Jena in map form (informal)