The Ministry of Culture amends the list of state-protected cultural monuments

The Ministry of Culture has issued an order amending Order No. 128 of October 29, 1998, “On the List of State-Protected Cultural Monuments.” The amendment was published in the official publication Latvijas Vēstnesis on October 7, 2026, in issue No. 193, with the official reference OP 2026/193. The notice is included in the “Ministries” section of the issue as Ministry of Culture Order No. 2.5-1-153.

The list of state-protected cultural monuments is a fundamental document that determines which objects are under state protection and what regime their owners and managers are subject to. The list is maintained and amendments to it are prepared by the Ministry of Culture, while the state administration functions for cultural heritage are implemented by the National Cultural Heritage Administration. The basis of the list is the inventory approved in 1998, which has been refined since then through individual ministry orders.

Main identifiers:

• Issuing body: Ministry of Culture
• Order number: 2.5-1-153
• Act being amended: Order No. 128 of October 29, 1998
• Publication: Latvijas Vēstnesis, October 7, 2026, No. 193, OP 2026/193

List Amendment Practice in 2026

Amendments to the list in 2026 are not an isolated occurrence. On August 26, 2026, Latvijas Vēstnesis issue No. 163 (OP 2026/163) published two similar Ministry of Culture orders — No. 2.5-1-132 and No. 2.5-1-133 —, both of which amended the same Order No. 128 of October 29, 1998. Order No. 2.5-1-153, published at the beginning of October, continues this same numbering sequence, indicating regular updates to the list several times a year.

Heritage Administration Instructions

Parallel to the list amendments, the National Cultural Heritage Administration published two general administrative acts on September 8, 2026, in issue No. 172 (OP 2026/172):

• NKMP/2026/14.2-07/357 — instructions for the use and preservation of an art monument of national significance;
• NKMP/2026/14.2-07/358 — instructions for the use and preservation of an art monument of regional significance.

These acts determine the practical use and preservation regime for specific objects, while the list amendments determine the protection status itself. Both types of documents work together: the list determines whether an object is under state protection, and the instructions determine how it may be handled.

What This Means for Owners

Inclusion in the list of state-protected cultural monuments affects the use, reconstruction, repair, and other economic activities of the property, as these require coordination with heritage protection authorities. Therefore, an amendment to the list is significant for both the owner of the object and the municipality in whose territory the monument is located. The order was published in the official publication, which serves as the source for its entry into force and public notification.

Ministry of Culture Order No. 2.5-1-153 confirms that the list of state-protected cultural monuments is a document subject to constant refinement, rather than a one-time approved inventory. Every owner whose property is included in the list or is located in the adjacent territory must keep track of these amendments, as they directly determine their economic opportunities and obligations.

Official source: Latvijas Vēstnesis, October 7, 2026, No. 193, OP 2026/193, section “Ministries”, Ministry of Culture Order No. 2.5-1-153 — amendment to Ministry of Culture Order No. 128 of October 29, 1998 “On the List of State-Protected Cultural Monuments”.