Lack of funding puts the preservation of French historic monuments in danger

The chief architect of historical monuments in charge of the district including Isère does not have an easy task. Since the beginning of the year, Riccardo Giordano has been climbing up to the Grande Chartreuse every month. The monastery of the Carthusian order, founded in 1084 and owned by the State, is the subject of an interminable renovation project that currently concerns part of the roof, the facades and some cells. Communication with the occupants of the premises is made difficult by their vow of silence. Few members of the congregation benefit from a release to speak with Riccardo Giordano. “One of our main missions is to maintain the original function of the site. Which always adds additional constraints to the renovation”recognizes the architect.

Like the monastery of the Grande Chartreuse, more than 46,000 historic monuments are “protected” by the State, due to their historical, artistic, or technical interest. Among them, a majority of churches, castles, ramparts, wash houses, stadiums, artists’ houses, landscaped parks, many of which will open their doors on the weekend of September 21 and 22, on the occasion of the 41^e Heritage Days.

Tens of thousands of sites will remain closed to the public. The diagnosis is clear: nearly a quarter of French monuments are considered to be in poor condition or in danger. The territory is covered by 34,000 monuments “classified” by prefectural decision. In addition, there are 14,200 “registered” as heritage by the Ministry of Culture. For all of them, maintenance, repair or restoration are mandatory. This represents a colossal project, skills and abysmal financing needs that the State is struggling to assume.

Bottomless pit

The challenge of opening these sites to visitors is no longer in doubt for the attractiveness of France as a destination, where 100 million visitors are expected in 2024. In June, a survey by Atout France, the national tourism development agency, revealed that 49% of foreigners discovered at least one cultural and heritage site during their stay. In addition, 33% of French people placed the discovery of heritage at the top of their motivation for visiting during their summer holidays. Historic monuments therefore weigh heavily in the economic spinoffs generated by tourism, estimated at 63 billion euros for 2024.

Even in rural communities where tourists are rare, the preservation of monuments is an economic activity in its own right and a “investment for the future”assures the Heritage Foundation. According to a study commissioned by the institution, the main private player in the financing of protected monuments, each euro invested in a project generates up to 21 euros of economic benefits. The renovation of heritage employs local labor, feeds a sector of professionals, preserves know-how on a national scale.

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