The islet Košljun is located in the Punat bay, between the peninsula Prniba and the city of Punat, and it's the administrative part of Krk. The scope of the entire island is only one kilometer and it is approachable by quick taxi-boat ride from Punat or a short drive from the town of Krk.
This small island is also a cultural monument because of its rich history and active Franciscan monastery, and it is as well a nature reserve for 540 species of plants and mushrooms.
1. History and Franciscan monastery
History of Košljun dates back to Roman times, when a villa was located there. For centuries, the island was uninhabited until the 11th century when the Benedictines built a monastery. The history of Franciscan Tertiaries goes back to the 15th century and the Frankopans. Today it is possible to visit the medieval monastery which is still inhabited by the Franciscans, to stay on the island as part of a retreat or listen to concerts of classical and sacred music in the atrium of the monastery.
On the island today there are four museums: archaeological, religious, ethnographic and natural history, and all of them are open throughout the whole year.
2. Natural resources and beauty
Is not clear whether the holm-oak and black ash on Košljun are a natural phenomena or were they grown by Franciscans centuries ago (and today they bred a series of types of olives on the island). It is certainly well preserved and on the island there is a series of ancient trees. Due to this fact and the abundance of species that we mentioned earlier, the island has been protected as a special reserve of forest nature since 1969.
3. How to visit Košljun?
You can visit the island by taxi boat from Punat or in part of any of the organized tours. It is possible to arrange transport to Košljun from the port in the town of Krk. This experience shouldn't be missed!
