Contesting Heritage: The Urban Promenade as Intangible Cultural Practice in the Bay of Kotor

Abstract (English)

This paper explores the urban promenade in the Bay of Kotor, Montenegro, as a vibrant yet informal social institution and a potential site of heritagisation, aligning with the panel’s focus on festivals and cultural events as contested spaces of heritage-making. Characterized by repetitive circular walking along historic pedestrian routes, governed by unwritten rules of spatial and social behavior, the promenade embodies an intangible cultural heritage rooted in local everyday life since at least the early 20th century. Drawing on critical heritage studies, this study examines the implications of formalizing the Bay of Kotor’s promenade as national or UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. It investigates how governmental authorization might reshape this practice to align with national identity narratives and tourism-driven agendas, potentially eroding its vernacular authenticity. Through ethnographic analysis, the paper highlights local aspirations to preserve the promenade’s communal intimacy against pressures from commercialisation and tourist expectations. By analyzing the roles of local participants, government officials, and visitors, this study reveals the promenade as a contested site where global heritage frameworks and local agency intersect, offering insights into the broader dynamics of heritagisation.