Abstract: The historical city is the most important asset of Krakow. The city centre is not a museum. It is a space full of life and the material heritage, animated and filled with something ephemeral, a special atmosphere conditioned by its genius loci, very important from the perspective of both, managers and users. The author shows the way the city authorities comply with their obligations under the requirements connected with Krakow's position on the UNESCO World Heritage List, using all the forms of heritage protection, defined in the Act on the Protection and Conservation of Heritage of 23 July 2003.

One of these forms is creation of the cultural park in the centre of Krakow, what evoked great interest of other Polish historical cities. Establishing the Cultural Park has significantly contributed to the enhancement of the Old Town's landscape, the historical part of Krakow inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Krakow gave an example to other historical cities on how to effectively manage the historical space that is still, above all, the heart of the city today, not only its historical centre. The concept of sustainable development of the city with the consideration for the quality of life of citizens, dominates today in thinking about the city. The sustainable development is not realised at the expense of what is authentic, old and antique, but to emphasize and highlight the beauty of what is old, historical, and unique, to see and know more about the history and the past.

Key words: Krakow cultural heritage, the old city culture park, cultural policy, the tangible and intangible heritage of Krakow, UNESCO city of literature, national fund for the restoration of Krakow's monuments

Protection of the cultural heritage of Krakow is a very comprehensive topic. Both because of the extent, profoundness and diversity of the subject matter as well as the competence of services, which are or should be included in the process of protection. After 1989, when the local governments in Poland were reactivated, the city of Krakow became a self-governed municipality on whose land, however, the powers of state and provincial governments constantly intersected, and after 1999 the powers of the state, region, county and municipality. The division of competences have had an impact on the process of preserving heritage and its protection.