Cultural Heritage Viability: An Example of Traditional Transport in Central Europe

• Main Author: Aleš Smrčka
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Muzeológia a kultúrne dedičstvo, o.z. 2021-06-01
• Series: Muzeológia a Kultúrne Dedičstvo
• Subjects: cultural heritage viability; traditional transport; intangible cultural heritage (ich); unesco; central europe
• Online Access: https://muzeologia.sk/index_htm_files/mkd_2_21_smrcka.pdf

This paper focuses on traditional transport as a form of cultural heritage in Central Europe, looking at the modes of transport that are still viable today as a part of people’s lives and livelihoods, as well as strategies to ensure their survival. The importance of preserving the original purpose of traditional transport modes, as well as their acquisition of new functions in the modern era, are examined in the context of the sustainability and viability of cultural heritage. The article also highlights crucial role of promoting the visibility of cultural phenomena to the public in encouraging their protection and ongoing sustainability. It also draws attention to some less positive examples of how forms of traditional transport are currently presented, examining approaches that may lead to the alteration of traditions and the construction of distorted images of cultural heritage. In the conclusion, I propose distinguishing between forms of traditional transport that continue to maintain people’s livelihoods or generate entertainment, and forms which are merely reconstructions of traditional phenomena, intended only as imitations to recall the past.