40th anniversary of Brijuni National Park

A big and important anniversary

The Brijuni Islands were declared a National Park on 1 November 1983. The first excursionists arrived to the islands in the spring of 1984. Recent history of the Park began in 1893 with the arrival of a great visionary, Austrian industrialist Paul Kupelwieser. Many years of protection of the Brijuni Islands and their seabed have made them a special, very valuable, and rich cultural and natural heritage, as well as a marvellous and partially unspoiled natural area.

The year 2023 marks a big and important anniversary of the Brijuni National Park – its 40th anniversary. The Brijuni Islands were declared a National Park on 1 November 1983. The first excursionists came to the islands in the spring of 1984. Nowadays, the Brijuni Islands are visited by around 200,000 visitors per year.

Before the islands were declared a national park, there were both periods of prosperity and wealth and times of disease and poverty. Around 120 million years ago, dinosaurs roamed Brijuni, and the first people arrived to the islands in the Neolithic era. The arrival of the first inhabitants to the island of Veliki Brijun marked the beginning of the creation of the Brijuni archipelago.

From the rich Roman era to times of great poverty and disease in the period of stone exploitation and malaria, Brijuni certainly went through many ups and downs.

Recent history of the Park began in 1893 with the arrival of a great visionary, Austrian industrialist Paul Kupelwieser Brijuni, who bought Brijuni. Kupelwieser’s presence on the Brijuni Islands led to some amazing developments – the islands were freed from malaria, stone from the quarry was removed from the grasslands, macchia was grubbed up, afforestation took place, a port was built (but it was only possible to sail into it during high tide), and so were villas, luxury hotels, and swimming pools with heated sea water, as well as an equestrian site and a tennis court, the first zoo was opened, etc.

For many years, Brijuni were a famous summer resort and an island of fun and sports.

During World War II, there was no more European elite on the islands – naval forces arrived instead. After the capitulation of Italy in 1943, the German army came to the islands, leading the Allied Powers to bomb Veliki Brijun and destroy its urban and economic assets.

In 1949, Brijuni became the summer residence of President Tito. The islands were reduced to destroyed buildings, damaged infrastructure, and cut down forests. During his time, Brijuni were renovated, buildings were erected, the flora and fauna flourished, and archaeological excavations were carried out. From 1949 to 1983, the archipelago was under a special security regime and was thus inaccessible to tourists.

Many years of protection of the Brijuni Islands and their seabed have made them a special, very valuable, and rich cultural and natural heritage, as well as a marvellous and partially unspoiled natural area.

A walk through the history of Brijuni

Čufar’s Trail and Belvedere Trail

The underwater world of Brijuni

Educational Trail "Zelenikovac"

Celebrating the 40th anniversary

Employee training

As the 40th birthday of the Brijuni National Park approaches, the opportunity to celebrate will have the employees of the Park, given that they are the ones contributing to the protection, preservation, and promotion of the Park on a daily basis. Employees will go on a tour of the Brijuni National Park with expert guidance of biologists and archaeologists, namely with the aim of getting acquainted with the value of the Park’s natural and cultural heritage.

We will conclude the employee training with a speech by the acting director Eduard Kolić, DVM, and a get-together with a small banquet.