Brijuni National Park
Combine valuable historic heritage with gorgeous scenery and you've got one of the most attractive destinations in Croatia, the Brijuni National Park!
The Brijuni archipelago, which consists of two main islands and 12 islets, lies along the Istrian coast and is separated from the mainland by a 3-km wide Fazana Channel. You can get there by one of official park boats from Fazana, which is only 6km away from Pula and can be reached by any kind of transport.
Due to the agreeable climate, deep retracted bays and reliable fortifications, humans have been attracted to the Brijuni islands from the Neolithic times until today. Despite a relatively small size of the archipelago, several hundred sites and constructions of high historic significance have been found there. In the 2nd millennium B.C., the Illyrian tribe of Histri inhabited the islands, and the Romans started to dominate this area in 177 A.D. Veli Brijun has the remains of three Roman temples, an imperial summer villa, dwellings for priests, baths, an aqueduct, sewage system, etc. Under Byzantine reign (539-776), Dobrika Bay used to be the center of the Brijuni islands. An easily defensible fortress confirms human presence there from the 2nd c. B.C. up to the 14th c. A.D. Other type of architecture found on the islands is typical of Christian medieval Europe, represented by St. Roch's church, the Benedictine Monastery, a tower-dungeon, etc. During the period from the 14th c. to the late 19th c. the population of Brijuni was scarce because of constant outbreaks of malaria. Brijuni Islands started to be developed into a world-renowned seaside resort in 1893 due to the efforts of Paul Kupelwieser, the Austrian industrialist who was not put off by malaria and bought the islands. During this time Robert Koch was working on the remedy for this disease and Kupelwieser invited him to Brijuni. It took him nearly three years (1900 to 1902) to combat malaria there, and a sculpture in his honor now stands on Veli Brijun. Since the times of WWII Brijuni had been associated with the President Tito, who decided to make his residence here. In 1983 this area was proclaimed a national park of Yugoslavia.
The main draw of the Brijuni Islands is their exceptional biodiversity. It's hard to believe there are 680 species of native and exotic plants, nearly 250 bird species, a great number of autochthonal and exotic animal species there. The sea constitutes 80% of the protected park's area and has most elements of the Adriatic marine eco-system.
As a part of an organized tour of Veli Brijun, the largest island of the archipelago, you can expect a pleasurable tourist train ride lasting about four hours. It will take you to the ruins of the Roman villa rustica (1st c. B.C.) in the bay of Verige, the archaeological museum housed in the Citadel building (16th c.), the Church of St. Germania showcasing copies of frescoes and Glagolitic writings of Istria. Moreover, you will see a photo-safari park which breeds many exotic animals, such as zebra, Somali sheep, zebu, and dromedary. This park owes its existence to Tito, who was presented with animals from all over the world by politicians who visited him on the Brijuni islands. When you get to Mali Brijun, you will have a chance to marvel at the Brioni Minor Fort (the late 19th c.), built by Austro-Hungarians, enjoy perhaps the best picnic of lifetime under majestic pine trees, and have a lazy swim in the heart-warming summer heat.
Recreational opportunities in the Brijuni National Park are astounding. Tennis, archery, golf, diving, team-building games, cultural events in summer, etc. And the smell of the sea, magnificent panoramas, soothing songs of birds, and many more ... Nothing can beat that.