The Cathedral Treasury Digitally and Virtually

We have completed the first stage of digitization of the treasury of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, located on Ostrów Tumski in Wroclaw. The project, carried out by the Foundation for Virtualization of National Cultural Heritage in collaboration with the cathedral parish, received financial support from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and the PKO Bank Polski Foundation.

The treasury of Wroclaw Cathedral is an extraordinary collection of sacred art, encompassing exhibits from Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque periods, all the way to twentieth-century modernism. As part of the project, we focused on digitally recreating the publicly inaccessible resources of the treasury as well as the silver main altar of Bishop Andreas Jerin, reconstructed in 2019 by a team of experts from the National Museum in Wroclaw. The silver figures of this altar are considered some of the finest works of late Renaissance art in Silesia.

During the implementation of the project, the latest 2D/3D measurement and visualization technologies were used, along with internet technologies such as a multilingual website, a mobile application for smartphones, and VR goggles. This created an interactive experience accessible to a wide audience, including people with disabilities (WCAG 2.1 standard).

The main goal of the project was to disseminate knowledge about these unique monuments and preserve them in digital form for conservation, scientific research, and protection against destruction. This is particularly important in the context of contemporary threats, such as armed conflicts. Digital documentation of monuments plays a crucial role in their protection and conservation, as well as enabling future generations to better understand and appreciate the artistic value of these works.

Ostrów Tumski, the oldest part of Wroclaw, is of key importance to the history of the city and the region. The project is part of broader efforts to protect and promote the cultural heritage of Silesia, making a significant contribution to the cultural and educational development of the region. Despite the completion of the current project, the digitization of the treasury will continue in the coming years, allowing for the preservation of additional valuable works of art for future generations.

Thanks to this project, the cathedral treasury in Wroclaw gains new life in the digital world, enabling better understanding and appreciation of its value by present and future generations.