The focus of the research was to analyze how the use, re-use and the preservation of the architectural heritage could contribute to the socioeconomic revitalization of historic urban centres. The research was based on the analysis of literature and examples and was carried out from the global perspective: the experience of different countries on how the architectural heritage could become a socioeconomic catalyst was reviewed and compared. The results of the research include the conceptual framework for the architectural heritage as a socioeconomic opportunity for rehabilitation of historic built environment based on the idea that sustainably managed use, re-use, preservation, and maintenance of architectural heritage can have multipartite positive impact on revitalization and successful development of historic urban environment.