In the wake of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the existing hygiene concept in Merseburg Cathedral is currently being further improved. With the support of the "EU REACT digitalisation cultural investment programme", we are creating hygiene-safe facilities for our guests and raising the cultural tourism offering to a new level. As many areas as possible are to be designed to minimise contact.

As an important cultural centre, we also want to be in the best possible position for the future in terms of hygiene and safety for our guests. In these times, nothing is more important than setting an example during the ongoing pandemic and ensuring greater security through new innovations. Thanks to the renewal of our locking system, many doors will no longer need to be operated manually in future and can be opened and closed conveniently without contact.

Not only for our visitors can the stay in the Merseburg Cathedral be organised with less contact, our employees are also better protected, as a single transponder can replace a large number of keys, which were previously in constant circulation.

Sustainable and secure: the new locking system not only protects visitors and employees, of course, but first and foremost the cathedral as an important cultural centre with valuable art treasures. This will also be possible even more effectively in future, as lost transponders, for example, can be blocked immediately, which greatly reduces the risk of unauthorised use. The time-consuming and expensive replacement of key cylinders can also be dispensed with.

We are delighted to be able to take this further major step towards digitalisation thanks to the project funding.