Zvonko Car Memorial Atelier – Crikvenica

The Zvonko Car Memorial Atelier is a small but atmospheric museum in Crikvenica, set inside the former sculpture workshop of Croatian academic sculptor, painter and professor Zvonko Car (1913–1982). The building sits in the park between the Hotel Miramare and Hotel Esplanade, right off the seafront promenade, making it an easy stop on a stroll through town.

What is the atelier and why was it built?

The workshop was built by the Municipality of Crikvenica in 1955, on the initiative of the then-municipal president Dušan Cvetić, specifically for Zvonko Car, an artist born and later deceased in Crikvenica. It is one of the very few buildings — possibly the only one — in the entire Primorje-Gorski Kotar County that was purpose-built from the ground up as an artist's studio. Car spent most of his working life here, producing sketches, clay studies and paintings that later served as the basis for his bronze-cast sculptures.

After the artist's death, the building waited years for a new purpose. The City of Crikvenica eventually restored it and turned it into a memorial museum: the Memorial Atelier officially opened on 14 August 2007, on Crikvenica's City Day, in honour of Car's prolific and wide-ranging body of work.

What will you see inside?

The centrepiece of the atelier is a permanent display of Car's original works — mostly plaster casts that he used as models for later bronze casting. Alongside the artworks, you'll find the artist's personal belongings and studio materials that recreate the working atmosphere of a mid-20th-century sculptor's workshop: tools, sketchbooks, and everyday studio objects.

The best-known work connected to the artist is the sculpture "Girl with a Seagull" (Djevojka s galebom) — its bronze cast now stands in Opatija, where it has become one of that resort town's symbols. Inside the atelier, visitors can see the sketches and studies that preceded this and other well-known Car sculptures found across towns throughout the Kvarner region.

How do you get there?

The atelier sits in the centre of Crikvenica, in the park between the Miramare and Esplanade hotels, at Trg Stjepana Radića 1c. It's fully walkable — from the main seafront promenade it takes only a few minutes on foot, whether you're coming from the town centre or the beach. Guests staying at nearby hotels can reach it without needing any transport at all.

When should you visit?

Given its small size and intimate character, a visit typically takes 20 to 40 minutes — a good short stop while walking through the park and promenade. It's worth checking current opening hours in advance, since the atelier is run by the local Centre for Culture (Centar za kulturu dr. Ivana Kostrenčića) and may follow a seasonal schedule, with longer hours during summer.

Who is it for?

This is an attraction for anyone interested in art, local history, and post-war architecture, as well as travellers who want to see more than just the beach during a stay in Crikvenica. Thanks to its compact size, it pairs well with visits to other cultural sights in town.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Zvonko Car? Zvonko Car (1913–1982) was a Croatian academic sculptor, painter and professor, born and later deceased in Crikvenica. His best-known work is the sculpture "Girl with a Seagull," whose bronze cast stands in Opatija.

Where exactly is the atelier located? At Trg Stjepana Radića 1c in Crikvenica, in the park between the Miramare and Esplanade hotels.

When did the museum open? The Memorial Atelier opened on 14 August 2007, Crikvenica's City Day, inside the studio building built for Car in 1955.

What will I see inside? Original plaster models of Car's sculptures, his personal belongings, and art materials that recreate the atmosphere of his former workshop.