In my paper I want to focus on the elaboration of the notion of ‘cultural heritage’ as an international phenomenon, by comparing the situation in France, Britain and Germany between 1870 and 1914, a period where key legislation was passed and modern conservation developed. Cultural heritage and collective memory are intimately linked concepts. In his preface to the section of ‘Patrimoine’ as Lieux de mémoire, Pierre Norastated: ‘Patrimoine: en un sens le mot aurait pu couvrir ce livre tout entier. Mais le patrimoine n’est pas seulement le dépôt général de l’histoire, il est aussi une idée immergée dans l’histoire’. Analysing the genesis of the concept of ‘heritage’ gives insight into the theoretical reflection of the function of memory. The concept has its origins in the wake of the French revolution, due to romanticism, increased vandalism and nascent nationalism. Gradually a seedbed was provided for seeing historic monuments as especially precious and hence the State as having a role in guarding them. Key ideas on the value of heritage were developed as a dialogue between private initiatives and state agencies. However, in contrast to the franco-centric view of the Lieux de mémoire, this innovation was far from being limited to the Hexagon and more than an initiative of the state to rally the citizens to the French nation. The perception of neighboring “national heritages” and the acculturation of foreign concepts played a decisive part in elaborating ones own identity. The choice of countries that were thought to be worthy examples allows insight into concepts of centers and margins. Despite a situation of open competition, the exchange between foreign state agencies as well as private associations on this behalf was intense. In the public discussion on legislation, the choice of objects to protect and their preservation, allusions to foreign practices were a means for the different groups involved - such as legislators, preservationists, architects and sociétés savantes - to justify and possibly impose their view of what the cultural memory of their country should be. As a by-product of this exchange, the notion of word heritage began to emerge more than a century before the foundation of the UNESCO. The conceptualization of heritage can thus show the place of French cultural memory within a larger European or even universal memory.