Cukrarna

Cukrarna is a contemporary art gallery in a former sugar refinery on the bank of the Ljubljanica in Ljubljana, in the Poljane district, a short walk from the old town. The name simply means the sugar refinery, and the large, plain building that carries it is one of the oldest industrial structures in the city. It was set up in the early nineteenth century as a sugar refinery, one of the early industrial ventures of the Habsburg period, when sugar from cane arrived in the port of Trieste, was carried inland and processed in factories like this one. The refinery was large for its time, but competition from beet sugar and a fire in the 1850s brought production to an end, and the building took on other uses.

After the refinery closed, the building led a varied second life. It served as a barracks for soldiers and then, when the great earthquake of 1895 left many people homeless, as housing for poor families, who lived in its large rooms and corridors. The building became a tenement, one of the poorest and most crowded addresses in the city. It has a place in Slovene literature, since writers such as Ivan Cankar, whose stories dealt with poverty and social injustice, are associated with the district, and Oton Župančič, another leading poet, also had links with it. For a long time the building stood neglected, and its future was uncertain.

In the 2010s the city decided to renovate it for cultural use, and the renewed Cukrarna opened as a gallery in the autumn of 2021. The conversion kept much of the industrial character, with high spaces, exposed brick and the generous proportions of a factory, while adding modern facilities. The gallery presents contemporary art in many forms, including visual art, installations, performance and sound, with exhibitions by Slovenian and international artists, and events and talks. A cafe and a terrace beside the river add to the appeal, and the waterside setting, with the castle visible in the distance, is pleasant for a pause. The programme changes through the year, so it is worth checking what is on, along with opening times and ticket prices.

The gallery sits close to other attractions, including the Roman remains and the Plečnik embankments, and it is within easy reach of the market and the bridges. It suits art lovers, architecture fans and visitors who enjoy buildings with history. Allow an hour or two.