ABSTRACT
Although there had been a desire to place the care and preservation of historical monuments on a legal footing in the states making up Germany as early as the eighteenth century, the first law on the protection of historical monuments on a par with present-day legislation was passed in the Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt – one of the precursors of today’s Federal Land (state) Hesse in 1902. It remained in force there until the Law on the Protection of Historical Monuments of the state of Hesse was passed in 1974. It afforded protection not only to the archaeological, natural and historical monuments themselves, but to their environs as well. This law also protected movable monuments. Provision was made for historical buildings to be listed, so giving them protection. A permit was required for alterations. It laid down maintenance requirements and the state’s supervisory obligations and right of access to the monuments, as well as providing for the persons affected to be compensated.
