zabytek

Zabytek is a designation used in Poland for a cultural property that is considered to have significant historical, artistic, or scientific value. The term covers both immovable objects, such as buildings, sites, urban or landscape assets (zabytki nieruchome), and movable objects, such as paintings, sculptures, manuscripts, or archaeological finds (zabytki ruchome). In Polish law, the protection of zabytki is governed by the Act on the Protection of Monuments and Guardianship over Monuments, and by regulations of the central authorities and voivodeships. A zabytek can be entered into a national or regional register of monuments, which grants it legal protection and imposes duties on owners and custodians to preserve its material integrity and appearance. Changes to a zabytek typically require consent from authorities responsible for conservation, and any restoration or documentary work must follow approved methods and documentation.

The designation serves to recognize and safeguard tangible heritage for future generations, and can open access to conservation funding, expert guidance, and public access programs. The term is also used in museums, urban planning, and cultural policy to categorize objects of value. While many zabytki are well known, many more are smaller movable or immovable objects preserved at local or regional levels. The concept emphasizes preservation, research, and public education as core purposes of heritage protection.