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wolpa

VR reconstruction of The Wolpa Great Synagogue

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Wolpa

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.

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.

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Belarus Shtetl

Wolpa synagogue

Institute of Art, Polish Academy of Science

vr reconstruction

Wolpa synagogue

Institute of Art, Polish Academy of Science

VR reconstruction of the Wolpa Great Synagogue

Belarusian-Jewish Cultural Heritage Center

Fortunately, photographs, sketches, and research of several generations of scholars have survived. Drawing on these sources, a team of curators, historians, restoration artists, and digital specialists meticulously recreated the spectacular Wolpa synagogue in a virtual space, with its rich paintings and architectural details. Through virtual reality, you can now step back in time to visit the synagogue as if it were still standing. 

Each painting was carefully recreated by hand, reproducing the original naive style, as Eastern European synagogues were often decorated by non-professional artists. The paintings were then digitized and integrated into the 3D environment. 

In the 1920s, the synagogue underwent a significant renovation that transformed its interior. Two distinct versions were therefore reconstructed,making it possible to trace how the space changed  over the years, reflecting the evolving times and the development of a local community.

wolpa before
wolpa after

Inside the Virtual Experience

Wolpa synagogue

Institute of Art, Polish Academy of Science

VR reconstruction of the Wolpa Great Synagogue

Belarusian-Jewish Cultural Heritage Center

Free EXPLORATION Mode

Move through  the synagogue at your own pace, exploring its architecture, decorative details, and reconstructed paintings.  A magnifying tool allows individual artworks to be examined up close, while the interior can be viewed before and after the renovation. The experience also includes a 360° view of the present-day site where the Wolpa synagogue once stood.

Guided Tour

Follow a curated route introducing the synagogue’s history, architecture, and significance, with detailed explanations of the meaning of its various elements. The accompanying audio guide is available in English, Russian, and French.

wolpa before
wolpa after

EXPLORE virtual Wolpa Synagogue

We invite you to embark on a fascinating journey to rediscover this lost Jewish cultural site.

Digital Collection

Wolpa

Related objects and documents

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wolpa before
Digital Collection
Wolpa Synagogue Archival Photos

Institute of Art of the Polish Academy of Sciences

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Drawing by Józef Jodkowski
Digital Collection
Drawing by Józef Jodkowski

1923

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Digital Collection
Wooden maquette of the Wolpa Synagogue

Made by students from the ORT schools of Constantine or Algiers around 1950 or 1952

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Research & Collections
Leonid Smilovitsky

Wolpa. Old and new. Studia Zydowskie. Almanach, 2020