Virtual Journeys into History at the 30th Day of the Monument in Vienna

For the 30th time, the Day of Monuments takes place on the last Sunday in September. Across Austria, over 250 monuments, archaeological sites, and historic buildings open their doors free of charge. In the anniversary year 2025, the event is themed "PRESERVE the MONUMENT, EXPERIENCE it DIGITALLY". The focus: the potential of digitalization for monument protection and preservation.

In Vienna, over 55 program points are planned. Thanks to new technologies, visitors can experience historical sites from unusual perspectives – for example, through web apps, 3D models, or digital tours.

Innovation Meets History at the Day of Monuments in Vienna

A central example of digital mediation is the virtual reconstruction of the Rotunda of the Vienna World's Fair of 1873. The building, which was destroyed by fire in 1937, is now digitally accessible for the first time. In a multi-user environment, visitors can virtually experience the interior during guided tours.

Other Viennese monuments also present themselves innovatively: The Hoxton Vienna, once the seat of the commercial economy, is not only architecturally presented but also made tangible in a 3D model. The Vienna Secession shows how platforms like Google Arts & Culture contribute to digital monument preservation. In the Austrian National Library, millions of digitized works await discovery.

Diverse Program in Vienna

The offerings in Vienna range from the Otto Wagner Area to the Art Nouveau Theater to the Oktoneum. In the House of History, the permanent exhibition "New Times: Austria since 1918" is presented. The program is complemented by walks, digital archive insights, and virtual tours.

"Digital tools help us in various areas to better understand, restore, and convey our historical heritage," says DI Wolfgang H. Salcher, State Conservator for Vienna. "Digitalization also shows us the immense importance of the substantial original with its patina in terms of authenticity and cultural identity for us."

Federal Monuments Office Presents Its Own Digitalization

A central project of the Federal Monuments Office is the digital monument register HERIS – Heritage Information System. The platform systematically records all known architectural and archaeological monuments in Austria and presents them in a user-friendly manner using interactive maps and structured datasets. In addition, the open-source tool Goobi is used, which efficiently supports the digitization and indexing of extensive archival collections, such as plans, photographs, or slides.

On the Day of Monuments itself, the Federal Monuments Office presents two program points in line with this year's motto: The Department for Digitalization and Knowledge Management opens its doors and presents the digital infrastructure of the Federal Monuments Office. Additionally, as part of a digital tour through the Hofburg, the historical rooms of Crown Prince Rudolf and Emperor Franz II/I can be experienced virtually via a QR code.

A European Holiday for Cultural Heritage

The Day of Monuments is Austria's contribution to the European Heritage Days – an initiative of the Council of Europe and the European Union. The European motto for 2025 is: "Heritage and Architecture: Windows to the Past, Doors to the Future."

Since the first Austrian contribution in 1995, the event has become a fixture in the cultural scene. Thousands take the opportunity each year to experience history up close – now also digitally.

The full program is available at www.tagdesdenkmals.at.

(Red)

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