Protect a building or movable object as a historical monument

Protection of a building or movable object as a historical monument

Certain properties – buildings or movable objects – have historical, artistic, architectural, as well as technical or scientific interest, which makes their conservation and transmission to future generations necessary.

To this end, the Ministry of Culture can, under certain conditions, grant them a special legal status: protection as historical monuments.

Presentation of the scheme

What is a historical monument?

A historical monument is a building (built or unbuilt: building, engineering structure, garden, public square, decorated cave, archaeological site, etc.) or a movable object (work of art, furniture, organ, boat, machine, etc.) that receives a legal status intended to protect it for its historical, artistic, technical, or scientific interest, so that it can be conserved, restored, and enhanced.

This status of “historical monument” is therefore a recognition by the Nation of the heritage interest of a property. This protection implies a shared responsibility between owners and the State for its conservation and transmission to future generations.

There are two levels of protection for historical monuments: inscription and classification. Inscription is the first level of protection, and classification is the highest level.<…