In memory of the giants

Meet the silent witnesses of our history – trees that defied time for centuries and the people who cherished them.

🌲 Bijanković’s pine
A symbol of peace and spirituality

Once one of the most beautiful symbols of Brela, this pine tree – over 300 years old – grew directly from the bare stone, testifying to the incredible strength of the Dalmatian karst.

Historical connection: Under its lush canopy, the Bishop of Makarska, Nikola Bijanković (1645–1730), used to meditate. A great benefactor of Brela, following the victory over the Turks in Sinj in 1715, he commissioned the construction of the Church of Our Lady of Victory (today the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel).
Fate and legacy: Although the original tree was lost in 1983, Brela has not forgotten its giant. Today, its memory lives on through:

• a new pine tree planted on the same historic spot
• the monument to Bishop Bijanković, erected in 2015 next to the church
• a street in Brela that proudly bears the Bishop's name.

🌳 The old oak of Soline
The miraculous return of a natural monument

The downy oak (Quercus pubescens Villd.) was a true natural phenomenon – a giant with a 20-meter canopy that defied the sea salt and Mediterranean climate. It was protected as a natural monument as early as 1967.

From loss to rebirth:
After the original oak was toppled by a storm in 2012, an extraordinary mission began to save its genetic heritage:
2012 – The beginning: Cuttings were taken from the fallen giant and grafted under controlled conditions.
The journey to Slavonia: The young saplings were carefully nurtured in Kutjevo and Bjelovar. A vital role was played by Milan Žgela, B.Sc. in Forestry, who personally tended to the last surviving sapling in his own garden for years, ensuring it grew strong and reached a height of over 5 meters.
Coming home: thanks to the dedication of experts and the Brela Tourist Board, the oak finally returned home. It was ceremoniously planted on April 13, 2019, in the courtyard of the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, where it grows today as the direct genetic successor of the ancient giant.

Interesting fact: this oak was likely the oldest and largest specimen of its kind in the county. Thanks to human perseverance, its centuries-old tradition continues.