Juraj Šporer Art Pavilion

The history of the Juraj Šporer Art Pavilion begins with a slightly different kind of art—confectionery. Built in 1900 right by the sea near St. Jacob’s Church, it originally housed the Gerbaud pastry shop, owned by Emil Gerbeaud, the famous Swiss chocolatier after whom the “žarbo” cake is named. At that time, fresh cakes arrived daily from Vienna by train, bringing a refined, cosmopolitan spirit to the town. In the 1930s, it became an exhibition pavilion, which it remains today, hosting numerous cultural and artistic events. It is named after Juraj Matija Šporer, a physician and one of the pioneers of the idea of Opatija as a climatic health resort.