Abstract
The article discusses the natural and historic heritage of medieval towns in the Opole Silesia region in the context of their ability to take advantage of their potential for sustainable development, especially in tourism. The chosen environmental, urban, architectural, and landscape factors were compared through this aspect and subjected to a multidimensional comparative analysis. The research studies applied mostly archival materials, contemporary topographic maps, statistical data, and both landscape as well as urban field studies. As a result, the studies indicated that the natural conditions of the locations, the preservation level of the urban system along with its development trends, and the areas of the old fortifications with their accompanying greenery constitute these towns’ very value and identity. As they combine elements of nature and culture, they may serve as the basis for development of tourism, which is likely to contribute to the social and economic revitalization of the region itself. What may play a major role in the quest for sustainable development are the urban greenery systems to be designed based on former fortification areas, city greenery, and natural environmental resources, which have been integral elements of these towns over many past centuries.
Highlights
Cultural heritage management is a fundamental part of preserving its value for future generations
They were often founded In cruda radice, or their origins could be associated with the existence of earlier gords, villages, or market settlements, as well as ancient Roman and early medieval period settlement [56,77]
Cultural heritage plays a major role in the sustainable development of every region acting as a strengthening or even creative factor of the local identity
Summary
Cultural heritage management is a fundamental part of preserving its value for future generations. Apart from obvious values, it is a universal value that shapes the identity and awareness of society. It defines its wealth and can become a basis for important initiatives as well as socio-economic transitions. What is key is that when faced with contemporary social, economic, and ecological problems of cities, it can become a part of sustainability strategies. The total sum of our heritage assets constantly fluctuates and many sites lose their values, while many others remain unidentified and unstudied [1]. Poland does not possess a unified system of valuating heritage elements, including architectural, archaeological, or garden design monuments [2]. Many scholars currently pursue the establishment of such a system, with ICOMOS Polska playing a leadership role [3,4]
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