QR code lets visitors access western Catalan church 24/7

The Sant Joan Baptista de Cellers church, located in the Pallars Jussà county in western Catalonia, can be visited 24/7, all year round. 

Visitors who want to see the interior of the temple can request, through a QR on the front door, an access code to enter the church.  

The technological system is an initiative started by residents of the town, and it has been integrated to the City Council's website. 

The mayor of Castell de Mur, Miquel López, explained that visits to the church have increased exponentially since the creation of the QR code system.  

Until now, anyone who wanted to visit the interiors of the church had to locate the villagers in charge of keeping the key.  

The building, declared a Cultural Asset of Local Interest, houses fresco paintings by the artist Josep Minguell that decorate the interior walls. 

The 66-year-old painter has dedicated himself to recovering the historical tradition of fresco painting to review it in the contemporary artistic context.  

Visitors also recommended watching a video with information about the church and the frescoes on the wall. 

López said the good function of the entry system in the church means they are considering implementing it in other churches, while security is ensured by video surveillance constantly monitoring the church.