[3] The Austro-Hungarian Navy abandoned the fortress, and in 1893 the Viennese business magnate Paul Kupelwieser bought the whole archipelago and began to create an exclusive beach resort.

In 1900 Kupelwieser invited Robert Koch, the renowned microbiologist, to conduct his malaria eradication experiments on Brijuni.

[4] The estate was supplemented with a harbour, water of the Istrian hills down under the sea, wonderful parks, vineyards, milk-oeconomy ("Imperial cheese" was famous, James Joyce enjoyed), first class hotels, a bath inside with warm saltwater, restaurants, beach resorts, tennis and a yacht harbour and became a focal point in social life on the Austrian Riviera.

Many famous poets, actors, artists visited the isle (Hugo Charlemont painted about 150 pictures showing Brionian motives).

Kupelwieser also established a sailing regatta and – due to the flourish of Austrian Culture – various musical concerts and literature events.

The Brijuni islands (called always Brioni) became popular as a destination for the Viennese upper class, people of industry and cuture and were visited by members of the Imperial family.

Brioni should be an isle of sports, he organised international games on the first European golf course with 18 holes (1922) and a polo court.

Professional players lived in the hotels and horses werde waiting permanent for guests, a Casino with high taxes by Italy made great financial problems.

1936 ownership of the islands was acquired by the Italian government due to the bankruptcy, and they remained part of Italy until the capitulation in 1943.

Almost 100 foreign heads of state visited Tito on his islands, along with film stars including Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Sophia Loren, Carlo Ponti, and Gina Lollobrigida.

In 1991 Croatia gained independence and made the Brijuni Islands an International Conference Center (see Brioni Agreement).

Four hotels on Veliki Brijun Island were re-opened, as well as a Safari Park, which holds animals given to Tito, such as Sony and Lanka, two Indian elephants donated by Indira Gandhi.

[2] The most important plant associations of Veliki Brijun Island are: Maquis shrubland, Holm Oak, and Laurel forest, and Conifers, which are very characteristic of the region.

Some of the smaller islands are excellent habitats where gulls and sea swallows nest, as well as some rare genera of cormorants.

The Brionian islands are also important seasonal habitats of northern bird species and the most interesting is the locality of Saline.

Of the marine organisms that are protected by the Law on Environmental Conservation in the waters of Brijuni you can find the pen-shell and the date-shell.

In the old boathouse was installed a fascinating museum about the other isles and nature, protect of envirinment and the old inhabitants, the isle-doctor of 1906 till 1938.