Are risks being patrimonies? Heuristic, geohistoric and operational reflections

This paper shows that environmental risks can be understood as forms of heritages. Indeed, both material and intangible heritage cultures are linked to risks which are territorial components. We study how it can be possible to conceive risks as heritage. The paper demonstrates that the geohistorical ambivalence of risks (positively or negatively perceived) goes hand in hand with their potential heritage. It is then interested in two concepts. the memory of risk and the culture of risk. which can be questioned under the heritage lens. Finally, patrimonializing the risks allows to aim for a better "living with" the risk, which will be discussed in the light of two case studies in France and Italy.