Private owners
Of the 44,421 buildings protected as historic monuments in 2019, 37% are privately owned.
As with any owner of a building protected under historic monuments, private owners are responsible for the conservation of their monument.
To support them, the State services provide direct aid in the form of grants to private owners to maintain and restore their monuments.
Each year, the Regional Cultural Affairs Directorates devote nearly €35 million in grants to finance the study, maintenance and restoration of buildings protected as historic monuments belonging to private individuals.
These direct aids are in addition to the tax exemption scheme for personal income tax provided for in the General Tax Code and various other tax relief schemes, generally linked to the opening up of monuments to the public.
Learn more: Subsidies and tax arrangements
In addition, associations of representatives of private owners of historical monuments are in constant contact with the services of the Ministry of Culture. Since the law of 7 July 2016 on freedom of creation, architecture and heritage, their place in national and regional heritage bodies has been increased.
Learn more: Associations and volunteer sites