The original 1891 statue was a sculpture of the Madonna requested by the Kesselstatt family after the Count's death.
Zvonko Car, the sculptor, was a native of Crikvenica, a neighboring coastal town.
The statue is made of bronze, though the original 19th-century version was made of plaster and later replaced due to storm damage.
It is considered the most photographed landmark in the Kvarner region.
The pose of the maiden is frequently interpreted as a gesture of peace or a welcoming salute to sailors.
The bronze figure is anchored to a distinct jagged rock formation that protects the harbor entrance.
The Maiden with the Seagull is a bronze sculpture located on a rocky promontory along the Lungomare coastal promenade in Opatija, Croatia. Sculpted by Zvonko Car, the statue was erected in 1956 to commemorate Count Arthur Kesselstatt, who drowned in the area in 1891. The sculpture replaced an earlier statue of a Madonna that had fallen into disrepair. The work depicts a maiden extending her hand toward a seagull in flight. It serves as the official symbol of Opatija and reflects the town's history as a prominent Austro-Hungarian seaside resort. The statue is positioned directly over the Adriatic Sea, exposed to salt spray and high winds. It underwent significant restoration in the early 2010s to address material degradation.
From the Lungomare path looking south-east to capture the statue with the sea and the Opatija coastline in the background.
Combine your visit with a walk along the 12-kilometer Lungomare promenade.
Visit during the shoulder season (May or September) to avoid the high-density crowds of summer.
Keep a safe distance from the edge of the rocks, as the stone can be slippery when wet from sea spray.
Do not attempt to climb or sit on the rock base of the statue, as it is slippery and structurally precarious.
