The Croatian Museum of Tourism presents the guest exhibition IMPERIAL – ROYAL SOUTHERN STATE RAILWAYS, by Alexius Vogel, an advisor for construction and infrastructure.

The exhibition opens on the occasion of World Tourism Day.

The development of infrastructure was one of the key segments for the advancement of tourism. Railways contributed to connecting cities within the country and Europe, and they were also crucial for the development of industry.

This exhibition discusses the technology of railway construction, the engineers and builders behind it, the beautiful landscapes through which the railways passed, the sections, railway stations, and more.

By decree of the Imperial Court Chancellery on December 23, 1841, it was ordered that railways be built leading from Vienna to the borders of the Empire. The Imperial-Royal Southern Railway Company from Vienna played an important role in the construction of railways in Croatia. The first railway in Croatia was built in 1860, connecting Kotoriba and Čakovec, linking Budapest with the Vienna-Trieste line. The exhibition displays several stages of the construction of the railway from Vienna to Trieste. In 1857, Vienna was connected to Trieste. The railway to Rijeka, via Matulji, Pivka, and further to Trieste, was completed in 1873.

With the construction of the railway, the private Southern Railway Company also began building hotels along the railway sections, including in Opatija. The first Hotel Kvarner was built in 1884.

The opening of the exhibition will take place on Thursday, September 26th, 2024, at 6 PM at the Croatian Museum of Tourism, Park Angiolina 1, Opatija.