Monument – Mention it!

“Zabytek – nie zapomnij! / Denkmal – denk mal dran! / Monument – Mention it!” is a Polish-German heritage conservation competition organised by the Association for the Preservation of Silesian Art and Culture (VSK) and OP ENHEIM, in cooperation with the German-Polish Foundation for the Protection of Cultural Heritage and numerous partners.

The competition aims to promote the long-term and sustainable preservation of smaller historic buildings and sites of historical and artistic value, located in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, the southern part of the Lubusz Voivodeship, and the Upper Lusatia region (on the Saxon side).

An important criterion of the competition is that restoration work should be carried out in accordance with the principles of sustainable development and environmental protection.

The competition also aims to raise public awareness of the links between environmental protection, sustainable development and cultural heritage on both sides of the Polish-German border, which is also the Lower Silesian-Saxon border.

It highlights the importance of Lower Silesia as a European meeting place and a shared cultural space. It also presents Polish-German history in the context of a shared heritage, positive experiences and the challenges facing societies in a united Europe.

The award aims to encourage private investors, non-profit associations and comparable legal entities to invest in buildings and sites of historical or historical-artistic significance, helping to restore their former beauty and uniqueness to prominence in the towns, municipalities and landscapes of Lower Silesia.

Eligible entries include buildings and other immovable structures worthy of preservation, which do not necessarily have to be formally protected as listed heritage sites, provided they were built within the specified geographical area before 1960.

The restoration, reconstruction or rehabilitation of the submitted property must be completed by the time the application is submitted. For the 2026 edition, projects completed between 1 January 2017 and the application deadline are eligible.

The winners of the VI edition of the competition, held in 2026, will receive prizes totalling PLN 20,000.

COMPETITION RULES

FINAL OF THE 6TH EDITION OF THE COMPETITION

On 7 November 2026, the final gala of the 6th edition of the competition “Zabytek – nie zapomnij! / Denkmal – denk mal dran! / Monument – Mention it!” will take place at the historic Benedictine Sisters’ Monastery in Lubomierz. The event will announce and celebrate this year’s winners. The gala will be hosted by Joanna Mielewczyk.

NOMINATED SITES – 6TH EDITION

Tea House in Kowary – owner: Emilia Baszak

Dolny Młyn in Wojciechów – owners: Małgorzata and Jacek Kiljański

Manor Farm Complex in Sławnikowice – owner: Iwona Aust-Szitnick

Dom pod Królikiem (House under the Rabbit)

Villa Luisenheim in Włodowice – representative: Łukasz Przybylak, representing the homeowners’ association

Building at 6 Kilińskiego Street in Jelenia Góra – owners: Małgorzata and Maciej Jabłoński

COMPETITION JURY

Marek Sztark – Chair of the Jury, Centre for Culture and Arts in Wrocław (Ośrodek Kultury i Sztuki we Wrocławiu)

Dariusz Borkowski – Ruinersi Foundation in Lower Silesia (Fundacja Ruinersi na Dolnym Śląsku)

Daniel Gibski – Lower Silesian Voivodeship Conservator of Monuments

Dr hab. Rafał Eysymontt, Professor at the University of Wrocław – Director of the Institute of Art History at the University of Wrocław

Katarzyna Sielicka – archaeologist and architectural conservation specialist, Head of the Museum and Education Department at Książ Castle, author of the book Zabytkowy budynek. Poradnik dla właściciela i użytkownika

Christopher Schmidt-Münzberg – architect, representative of the Association for the Care of Silesian Art and Culture (VSK)

Viola Wojnowski – founder of OP ENHEIM and member of the Board of the German-Polish Foundation for the Protection of Cultural Heritage

Julita Izabela Zaprucka – Director of the Karkonosze Museum in Jelenia Góra

MORE INFORMATION AND GALA PROGRAMME

Before the final gala, we invite you to a Polish-German symposium dedicated to the protection of cultural heritage.

SYMPOSIUM PROGRAMME

The project “Zabytek – nie zapomnij! / Denkmal – denk mal dran! / Monument – Mention it!” The Polish-German Symposium on Monument Preservation and Shared Cultural Heritage is co-financed by the Foundation for Polish-German Cooperation.

PREVIOUS EDITIONS

2024 WINNERS

At the awards ceremony of the 5th edition of the competition “Zabytek – nie zapomnij! / Denkmal – denk mal dran! / Monument – Mention it!”, held on 17 November 2024 at OP ENHEIM in Wrocław, the following prizes were awarded:

1st Prize: Villa pod Bukiem in Złoty Stok (Ząbkowice County, Municipality of Złoty Stok).

2nd Prize ex aequo: House in Stara Łomnica (Kłodzko County, Municipality of Bystrzyca Kłodzka).

2nd Prize ex aequo: Half-timbered house in Wolimierz (Lubań County, Municipality of Leśna).

2022 WINNERS

At the awards ceremony of the 4th edition of the competition “Zabytek – nie zapomnij! / Denkmal – denk mal dran! / Monument – Mention it!”, held on 6 November 2022 at Uroczysko Siedmiu Stawów in Gola Dzierżoniowska, the jury awarded three equal prizes to:

The villa at 5 Karłowicza Street in Wrocław.

The half-timbered house at 89 in Proboszczów (Złotoryja County, Municipality of Pielgrzymka).

The forge on the Bóbr River in Przeździedza (Lwówek County, Municipality of Wleń).

The jury also awarded a Special Prize to the Anna Foundation for its project Saving from Oblivion – the Evangelical Cemetery in Gostków (Wałbrzych County, Municipality of Stare Bogaczowice).

Congratulations to all the winners, and thank you to everyone who took part in the competition!