The architecture as well as the impressive wall paintings and stucco figures play a central role. “In order to make this visualization of the historic condition of the former monastery building possible, many individual steps were necessary”, reports Annika Pröbe on the successful cooperation with the expert team of the Fraunhofer Institute. In real “puzzle work” with countless high-resolution digitization processes, an app has been created over the past three years that virtually resurrects the historic Johannischor and makes it possible to experience it directly on site. And those who join the multimedia tours now will receive exciting and moving insights into a great past.

Intense play of colors

With the help of the used tablets, perspective and decoration that previously could only be described during guided tours can be made visible in the Johannischor. “This is a didactic development with a special aha effect,” says Annika Pröbe, delighted with the response in the so-called test. Anyone who passes a tablet on the walls of the gallery church, which seems so simple today, will be amazed at the unusual coloring of the reconstruction.

A veritable fireworks display of green, red, blue, orange and yellow awaits Corvey’s guests. No wonder, since the builders of Corvey in the 9th century consciously oriented themselves towards ancient models – because the statues, temples and triumphal arches of the Greeks and Romans, which today’s viewer encounters so white as marble, were originally intensely colored and decorated with elaborate ornaments.

The scene of Odysseus can be traced

Thus, the six ancient life-size stucco figures come to life in the Westwork as 3D replicas – based on sketches by the scientists – in a virtual and extremely colorful way. Remnants of paint on the original fragments made it possible to draw the appropriate conclusions. The richly ornamented arcade arches with their beautifully crafted tendrils are equally impressive. It is also exciting that visitors can “trace” the fragile painting on display directly in front of the famous Odysseus scene below the West Gallery and receive accurate information about the mythological depiction. This “combat of Ulysses against the sea monster Scylla” reflects in an exemplary way the ancient reception of the Carolingians.