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Mali Brijun is the second largest island of the Brijuni Islands, its surface area is 108.85 ha and the length of the coastline is 8.28 km.
Fort Brioni Minor, the Ulysses Theater and educational trail "Stone stories of Brijuni"
Mali Brijun is known for its Fort Minor, which is the largest fortification on the Adriatic coast, as well as for the Ulysses Theater which represents a jewel of Croatian art and gathers theatre lovers each summer.
Among the many preserved facilities that were once part of the Austro-Hungarian military-defence system, Fort Brioni Minor is surely the most prominent, and it undoubtedly dominates the island of Mali Brijun. Fort Brioni Minor and Fort Tegetthoff on Veli Brijun were the westernmost fortifications on the first line of defence of the Austro-Hungarian naval port in Pula. The fort was constructed in the last five years of the 19th century, and upon its completion became the largest Austro-Hungarian fort on the Adriatic coast. Four other forts were constructed on the Brijuni Islands.
The dimensions of the fort were 175 x 90 m, and it would house a crew of 12 officers and 530 soldiers. The surface area of the fort is 15,750 m2, and it was protected by 20 long range cannons.
In the recent years, the fort has served as a theatrical scene of the Ulysses Theatre during the tourist season.
Although Mali Brijun kept its original landscape full of maquis, you can also enjoy cultivated landscapes, parks, meadows and pastures, and many Austro-Hungarian fortifications can be found hidden from view.
Educational trail "Stone stories of Brijuni" is content-rich educational trail created as part of the KAMEN-MOST project (STONE-BRIDGE project), implemented within the framework of the European Territorial Cooperation Programme between Slovenia and Croatia for the period 2007 - 2013. The aim of the project is to preserve the heritage and raise awareness regarding the traditional techniques, exploitation and use of stone. Untouched nature, quarries and fortifications dominate the landscape of Mali Brijun, and this trail represents a true gem, revealing completely different features compared to Veliki Brijun. The trail includes 15 information boards, and offers a pleasant 2.5-kilometre walk. There are numerous features to enjoy, spanning from geological, technical, construction, historic, fortification elements to ethnographic elements.
The trail leads to the main port, towards Cape Glavina on the north side of the island. If you get tired during your walk and wish to take a quiet moment to think and reflect on everything you have seen, you can rest in the shade at special spots drawn from the trail along the quarry line.
