ICOMOS: International Council on Monuments and Sites

The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) was founded in Warsaw in 1965, one year after the signing of the Charter of Venice, the international charter for the conservation and restoration of monuments and ensembles. The German National Committee was founded in Mainz in 1965.

ICOMOS is the international non-governmental organisation speaking up worldwide for the protection and conservation of monuments, ensembles and the historic cultural heritage. As advisor and expert it is involved in the work of the World Heritage Committee and in the implementation of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention. So far there are already more than 110 National Committees. Furthermore, ICOMOS has more than 25 International Scientific Committees. On the national and international level, ICOMOS Germany stands up for the preservation of monuments, ensembles and cultural landscapes. In order to advise the professional world and the public and to foster public interest in the protection and conservation of monuments, the German National Committee of ICOMOS is active in the following areas:

• monitoring of and information about the German sites on the World Heritage List;
• preparation and realisation of international conferences on matters of monument protection and conservation;
• publication of conference proceedings and of important position papers on monument conservation;
• ooperation with other National Committees and various national boards (Vereinigung der Landesdenkmalpfleger [Association of Federal Conservationists], German UNESCO Commission, Deutsches Nationalkomitee für Denkmalschutz [German National Committee for Monument Conservation) as well as with international organisations (UNESCO, ICCROM, European Council).

ICOMOS Flyer

A flyer (in English, German, French and Polish) informs about the responsibilities and objectives of ICOMOS Germany. Copies of this flyer can be provided to parties wishing to distribute or display them at conferences etc. You can also download the flyer here:

Flyer in English (PDF 14MB)

Flyer in German (PDF 14MB)

Flyer in French (PDF, 14MB)

Flyer in Polish (PDF, 14MB)