CONSERVATION CHALLENGES AND PROTECTION STRATEGIES FOR HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE IN NOWY WIŚNICZ (POLAND)

Abstract

This article examines conservation problems that concern Nowy Wiśnicz, a town of exceptional historical, architectural, and landscape value, which represents one of the most valuable examples of a 17th-century urban and architectural complex in southern Poland. This study addresses two main aspects: the town’s historical architecture, with particular emphasis on the castle and the Carmelite monastery complex, and the spatial development processes that have produced its contemporary appearance. The research is based on an analysis of historical cartographic sources, including Austrian military surveys, as well as archival materials and current spatial planning regulations. The results demonstrate that, despite limited economic growth and spatial development in the 20th century, Nowy Wiśnicz has preserved a clearly legible historic urban layout and a high concentration of heritage assets. Special attention is given to the role of statutory conservation instruments, including the local spatial development plan and the designation of the town as a Monument to History, which provide an effective framework for the preservation of the cultural landscape and the protection of the town’s historical identity.