Brijuni - Croatia

Categories: [Europe] [National Parks] [Sea]
Links: http://www.brijuni.hr
Last update: December 20, 2007.
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About Brijuni

Along the western Istrian coast there are several island groups among which the most interesting, the largest and most indented is the Brijuni (Brioni) island group with its 14 islands and islets covering and area of 7.42km2.

The present day boundaries of the National Park were set in 1999 and comprise the land, the surrounding sea with the seabed and cover an area of 33.9km2. The length of the coastline of all the islands is 46.8 km. The most indented islands are Veliki Brijun (25.9km) and Mali Brijun (8.3km). The shores are mostly low and rocky but easily accessible due to the horizontal stratification of the rocks, and in some bays pebbles and sand can be found.

The National Park of Brijuni includes the following islands: Veliki Brijun, Mali Brijun, St. Mark, Gaz, Okrugljak, Supin, Supinic, Galija, Grunj, Vanga (Krasnica), Pusti (Madona), Vrsar, St. Jerome and Kozada. Geologically and geo-morphologically Brijuni are the continuation of western Istria, the so-called "Red Istria". Since the depth of the channel of Fazana is just 12m, Brijuni were until some 10,000 years ago an integral part of Istria.

The islands are made of horizontal or slightly inclined layers of limestone from the Cretaceous, on which in places there are layers of carbonated brown or red soil. The stone that belongs to that formation is white in colour, easily breakable, of marble structure and is abundant in clay and flint. Therefore it is very solid and is an excellent building material. Roman builders appreciated the listed qualities of these stones and it was used to build many towns on the Adriatic.

VELI BRIJUN

The sightseeing tour includes: a ride by tourist train, visit to the remains of the Roman villa rustica from the I century B.C. in the bay of Verige, and the safari park which breeds the following animals: zebra, Somali sheep, zebu (the holy east Indian humped ox), dromedary, llama and elephant.

The tour also includes visits to the archaeological museum located in the Citadel building from the XVI century and the Church of St. Germain with permanent exhibition of copies of frescoes and Glagolitic writings from Istra.

MALI BRIJUN

The island of Mali Brijun is the second island by size belonging to the Brijuni National Park and covers an area of 107,3 ha.
It is separated from the island of Veliki Brijun by the Tisnac Channel which is 150 m wide.

The excursion by m/b Brijunka to the island of Mali Brijun starts with a visit to the Brioni Minor Fort built at the end of the XIX century which was part of the defense system of the main Austro-Hungarian port Pula.
This largest fort, measuring 175 x 90 m, had 12 officers and 530 soldiers and was protected by 20 cannons. The fort covers an area of 15.750m².

Brijuni Map and Features

Ethno park

The ethno park is an area within the Safari park presenting a typical Istrian homestead with its autochthonous animal species. Istrian ox (Boskarin), Istrian sheep (Istrian "Pramenka"), donkeys and goats.
It is intended both as a habitat and presentation of domestic animals of Istria. There you can also see structures suitable for such farm animals, such as the Istrian open "tetoja" (covered area with feeder for farm animals).

Safari park

On the northern edge of Veli Brijun, in an enclosed area stretching over 9 hectares, lies the safari park that was formed in 1978. The park is the habitat of  many exotic plant eaters: Indian elephants Sony and Lanka, llamas - South American camels which according to the Indian legend were domesticated in the very beginnings of  human existence, zebras, nilgais and kob antelopes, Somalian sheep, Indian holy cows and autochthonous donkeys.

Saline bird reserve

In the deep southern cove of  Veli Brijun behind Cape Gromace lies the bird reserve Saline. It stretches over an area of 7 hectares, characteristic for its swampy plants and three small lakes. Within the complex of the largest lake, secretly hidden by the reed lies a secluded small island with a straw-covered hut where Josip Broz Tito used to relax  while listening to birds singing.
This bird reserve developed on the remains of medieval salt pans used for the production of salt, which then again originate from ancient salt pans, traces of which are still visible today along the sea coast. The significance and importance of the salt pans can best be seen in documents stating that the profit of Brijuni''s salt sale is "an extraordinary profit for the Venetian Republic” or if you are planning to start your own salt production then you should "visit the salt pans Inzulae Brionorum that have been an example of top quality activities for centuries”. With the land-reclamation works in 1960 the area of salt pans was filled in; two small lakes were formed and in 1973 the third one was added. At that time the largest lake and surrounding area adopted their final functional and landscape form, so that this area became a meeting place for resident and migratory bird species, a true ornithological park.

Diving

The waters of the national park of Brijuni are extraordinary for scuba diving, which is organised through guided groups of divers that can view and photograph the seabed of the national park.

As far as diving is concerned there is a wide choice of themes and depths and every demand can be met. The physical articulation of the archipelago, its islets, rocks and shoals, the indented coastline and the different exposition of bays, capes and passages to squalls and waves and the different kinds of rocky and sedimentary sea beds point to the fact that in this relatively small area (around 40km²) many species of marine organism can be seen. The seabed of the national park of Brijuni, by its primary characteristics, does not vary from other areas of the northern Adriatic.

The diversity and the density of populations and the preservation of natural habitats are its main values. Particularly rich and diverse is the fish stock that prospers protected from overfishing. The fish populations are by their density and the size of single specimens representative. Besides the common, commercial species like two-banded breams, groupers, dentexes, forkbeards, black umbers etc., there are numerous and beautiful fish from the blenny and labrid species. The fish fauna makes the waters of Brijuni unique and different from other parts of the Adriatic.
 

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