2026 bjch.center
The Wolpa Great Synagogue is considered one of the most beautiful wooden synagogues ever built. For more than two centuries, it stood at the heart of Jewish life in Wolpa. It was completely destroyed during World War II.
A MASTERPIECE OF WOODEN ARCHITECTURE METICUOUSLY RECREATED IN A VIRTUAL SPACE
wolpa
Wolpa, now a village in present-day Belarus, was once a thriving shtetl with a vibrant Jewish community. First documented in the 15th century as part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, its political and territorial status changed over time as it became part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Russian Empire, interwar Poland, and later the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic.
The Great Synagogue is believed to have been constructed in Wolpa in the first half of the 18th century. Renowned for its distinctive architecture and intricate handcrafted decoration, it became a model for a number of wooden synagogues. Tragically, it was deliberately burned by Nazi forces during the German occupation.
Wolpa synagogue
Institute of Art, Polish Academy of Science
vr reconstruction
Inside the Virtual Experience
EXPLORE virtual Wolpa Synagogue
We invite you to embark on a fascinating journey to rediscover this lost Jewish cultural site.