As of 29 January 2026, life in Ostaszów (Przemków municipality, Polkowice County) has been thrown into uncertainty. That was when the Lower Silesian Voivodeship Heritage Conservator initiated proceedings to enter the ruralist settlement (a historically shaped spatial village structure comprising buildings (farmsteads, houses), the road layout, field patterns and natural elements) of the locality in the heritage register. Although officials stress that the aim is to save heritage, for residents this is the beginning of a fight for a roof over their heads.
An official ban and harsh realities
Under the regulations, from the day proceedings are initiated until their legally binding conclusion, a complete ban on conservation, construction and restoration work applies to the properties covered by the case. This means that property owners may not take actions that could damage the substance or change the appearance of the buildings. Importantly, the ban also applies to works covered by a building permit or notification that has already been issued.
Residents: “This is not an open-air museum, but a living village”
The local community reacted immediately by issuing a petition signed by several dozen people. Residents stress that Ostaszów is not a dead settlement, but a place where everyday life continues.
In their press statement, they write directly:
Instead of providing residents with real support in preserving the historic character of the locality, the planned entry could drive many families into poverty, debt and helplessness in the face of growing formal obligations.
Residents fear that protection covering the entire village area – regardless of the actual historical value of individual buildings – will impose financial burdens on them that they cannot bear. They point to the need to obtain numerous approvals and the drastic increase in renovation costs, which in their view will lead to “the gradual degradation of property”.
Councillors side with the residents
Opposition has also come from the Przemków Municipal Office. Councillors sent an official statement to the conservator. In it, they highlight the lack of public dialogue and the risk of “investment paralysis”.
“In practice, this means placing contemporary, modernized buildings without heritage features under strict protection as well. Such broad interference in property rights raises serious doubts as to its proportionality,” the local government officials warn.
What next for Ostaszów?
Residents feel ignored. They claim that the meeting held on 1 April did not produce “real dialogue” and that their comments were treated “perfunctorily”. They are now appealing to the media, members of Parliament and social organizations for support.
The dispute in Ostaszów is a classic example of the conflict between heritage protection and citizens’ right to live according to their own principles. Will the conservator withdraw the planned entry, as councillors and residents are requesting?
The matter is expected to be concluded in June. We will return to the topic.