Ashmyany Synagogue Reconstruction & Tour

The Belarus Shtetl: Ashmyany Synagogue Reconstruction & Tour opens the doors of one of Belarus’s last surviving brick-wooden synagogues — a place where silence has replaced centuries of life.

Behind its modest facade lies a breathtaking world of light and symbols: a dome painted with stars, zodiac signs circling the walls, and the rising sun above the Torah Ark. Each detail was recreated by hand from archival traces and pigment remains, bringing back the colours, rhythm, and spirit of an era.

Only one historical photograph of the interior has survived, showing the bimah in the main hall. From this single clue, historians and artists rebuilt the entire space, comparing it with preserved synagogues across the region.

The VR tour lets you walk freely through the synagogue — from the women’s gallery to the central bimah — zoom in on the frescoes, or switch instantly to a 360° view of its present neglected state. A narrated tour in several languages guides you through the history of the shtetl, its synagogue, and the meaning of its paintings.

Rediscover the hidden beauty of the Ashmyany Synagogue!