Grand Contract as a Civil Law Form of Action of the Provincial Monument Conservator in the Polish Legal System

The legal issue of protection of monuments and guardianship of monuments seems to be a substantial challenge for the national legislator. Its significant role comes from the fact that it fulfils the postulate of protection both of the public interest related to the preservation of the cultural heritage for future generations, as well as the protection of the private interest related to the necessity of ensuring the possibility of use of the monument by its owner or another person holding a legal title to the monument. Because of its practical significance, a special role in the legal system of protection and guardianship of the monuments is played by the system of financial support granted by the state authorities to individual monument holders. The purpose of this article is to present a legal characteristic of the grant contract concluded by and between provincial conservators of monuments and monument holders for conservation, restoration and construction works at monuments listed in the national registry of monuments. The grant contract constitutes a specific legal form of consensual operation of a public authority.