Encyclopedic publications about the world's cultural and natural heritage, as recognized by UNESCO, are commonly published by both domestic and international publishing houses. They are available in public libraries and study rooms, and are often found in family collections. Many people visit the Czech landmarks that are included on this list, and they are popular destinations for cultural and educational tourism. Recently, a new and excellent publication has been released, focusing on
The list of intangible cultural heritage is compiled, approved, and expanded each year. Currently, there are over seven hundred intangible cultural heritage sites registered worldwide. In Europe, there are over 200, of which 10 are located in the Czech Republic. A leading publishing house in Brno, JOTA, has released a large-format, richly illustrated publication that provides an overview of European UNESCO intangible heritage sites, including those in the Czech Republic. This "cultural atlas" includes brief descriptions of each topic, expanding our knowledge and understanding. We highly recommend this book for study by both young people and their teachers.
Tangible and Intangible World Heritage
The UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage includes traditions, knowledge, and skills that represent authentic expressions of unique cultural identities. They cannot be preserved like artifacts in a museum; their survival depends on observation, documentation, and active participation by people. The list also includes a Register of Good Safeguarding Practices for Intangible Cultural Heritage, which contains important strategies and knowledge about how to properly care for intangible heritage. The convention identifies five areas where intangible cultural heritage can be found:
Oral traditions and expressions, Performing arts, Social practices, rituals, and festive events, Knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe, and Traditional crafts. Let's return to the book itself...
From A to Z
More precisely, from Albania to Switzerland. By organizing the content alphabetically, the author, Miroslav Hrdlička, explores and carefully documents extraordinary forms of human activity that are reflected around the world, but not as tangible monuments – unique forms of language, customs, rituals, and festivals, unique artistic performances, skills associated with traditional crafts, or knowledge about nature and the universe.
Undoubtedly, some topics are more interesting than others. Some are even quite curious. How many of us knew, for example, that Albanian transhumance, the seasonal movement of livestock, was added to the list of intangible heritage in 2023? A year earlier, the Albanian traditional bell-shaped skirt, called "xubleta," was also added to the list, with a note that it needs urgent protection.
In Sweden, for example, the tradition of building Nordic clinker boats is listed, and in Switzerland, the Basel Carnival, the Vevey Winegrowers' Festival, or the watchmaking craft are included.
Let's Go Home
The Czech Republic currently has nine entries on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage and one entry in the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices.
"Slovácký verbuňk" was inscribed in 2005, followed by "Masopustní obchůzky a maškary na Hlinecku" (2010), "Sokolnictví" (2010), "Jízda králů" (2011), "Loutkářství" (2016), "Modrotisk" (2018), "Foukané vánoční ozdoby" (2020), "Voroplavba" (2022), "Strategy for the Protection of Traditional Crafts" (registered in 2022), and "Handmade Glass Production" (2023). Other Czech nominations include "Vamberk lace-making," "Slovácké hody" (traditional festivities), "Losiny paper-making," "Czech beer culture," including cooperage, bagpipe playing, and handmade "žinylkové" textiles in Hline.
He also spoke about his book on Czech Radio – you can listen to it here
Author: Miroslav Hrdlička
Born in 1955, he studied geography and works as a tour guide and journalist. He is a traveler and co-founder of the "Klub železničních cestovatelů" (Railway Travelers Club), which is still active. He is the creator of the "Cestovatelské úterky" (Travel Tuesdays) program at the Municipal Library in Prague. He is a co-author of several travel guides, the "Cestománie" project at the Kartografie publishing house, and the book "Skvosty Evropy" (Treasures of Europe), which maps European cultural and natural UNESCO World Heritage sites.
PHOTO - JOTA Publishing House Translation: legacy (English)
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