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Wolpa front view
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Wolpa ground plan
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View from the north-west
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Synagogue in Wolpa. View from the north-west,
photo by S. Zajczyk, before 1939 year, IS PAN.
The Wołpa Synagogue was built in what is now Belarus, probably in the first half of the 18th century. Its architect is unknown. The Synagogue underwent several renovations between 1903-1936, mainly on its roof and aron ha-kodesh. It was declared a cultural monument in 1929 and was destroyed by the Nazis in June 1941 or December 1942.
The Wołpa Synagogue is considered to be one of the most outstanding works of wooden architecture in Europe. The layout was strictly symmetrical, which was particularly emphasized by two-story alcoves on the western wall. The impressive octagonal vault gave the intended effect of perspective correction, which made the main hall appear higher than it actually was. The vault was divided by galleries and balustrades into separate stories, differentiated by their cross-sectional profile. The interior was decorated magnificently in polychrome paintings.
In 2015, a life-size physical reconstruction was created in the city of Bilgoraj (Lublin Province, Poland). This digital reconstruction from 2022 is primarily based on the survey drawings from Maria and Kazimierz Piechotka’s book "Heaven’s Gates. Wooden Synagogues in the Territories of the Former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth“.
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The Wołpa Synagogue is considered to be one of the most outstanding works of wooden architecture in Europe. The layout was strictly symmetrical, which was particularly emphasized by two-story alcoves on the western wall. The impressive octagonal vault gave the intended effect of perspective correction, which made the main hall appear higher than it actually was. The vault was divided by galleries and balustrades into separate stories, differentiated by their cross-sectional profile. The interior was decorated magnificently in polychrome paintings.
In 2015, a life-size physical reconstruction was created in the city of Bilgoraj (Lublin Province, Poland). This digital reconstruction from 2022 is primarily based on the survey drawings from Maria and Kazimierz Piechotka’s book "Heaven’s Gates. Wooden Synagogues in the Territories of the Former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth“.
more about the project
more about the app
download the postcard