Bled

Bled: Image of Paradise

This Alpine lake with the only island in Slovenia has been a world-renowned paradise for centuries, impressing visitors with its natural beauty, wealth of legend, and special powers to restore well-being. Look out at the lake from a castle on a cliff and visit the island on a traditional “pletna” boat.

Visit Lake Bled to make your wishes come true

Traditional wooden boats – pletnas – have been taking visitors to the island in the middle of the lake for centuries. These boats are operated by standing rowers known as pletnars. After landing, guests climb 99 stone steps to reach the Assumption of Mary Church. On this island, which is the subject of legendary tales, listen to the church bell and ring it yourself. Legend has it that this will make your wishes come true. As you return to the lake shore, view the island on the lake from the castle or from the walking and horse-carriage trails that lead you around the lake. Take a ride with Bled coachmen, known as fijakers!

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The story of the Bled bell

The church bell, made in the early 16^th century, is said to have come from the pope himself. The story goes that he gave it to the church after the original bell, sent to the island by an inconsolable widow in remembrance of her late husband, ended up sinking to the bottom of the lake in a storm. So, Bled really has a pair of legendary bells: the one in the church and the one on the bottom of the lake. The legend about the sunken bell is brought to life every year by a special Christmas event.

Views and experiences at Bled Castle

The most beautiful view of the lake, its island, and the surrounding peaks is from the castle towering over the lake on a cliff. Due to its beauty, it is considered to be one of the loveliest wedding venues in Europe, and it has also been the location of important diplomatic and state protocol meetings. In addition to the picturesque architecture, this 12^th century castle is also home to a museum collection; a castle printing works, where you can learn about traditional manual printing; the castle cellar, where you can bottle wine and seal the bottle with wax ; a castle smithy, and a restaurant. In the summer months, you can meet a castle lord or experience an archery tournament.

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The most beautiful places for the most prominent guests

Bled is one of the most recognisable iconic places in Slovenia. In the 19^th century, it was visited by hydropathy enthusiasts following the methods of the Swiss physician Arnold Rikli. At the beginning of the 20^th century, Lake Bled was considered to be the most beautiful health resort in Austria-Hungary. After World War II, this was the location of one of the most important state protocol residences. Villa Bled has retained this function to the present day.

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The lake's thermal springs

Due to its mountain climate and unspoilt nature, Lake Bled was once widely considered to be a health resort, and there were pleasant bathing areas on the lake. The lake does not have major natural inflowing streams; water is only supplied by a few springs. There are also thermal springs in the north-eastern part of the lake, which now supply the swimming pools of Bled hotels. (Grand Hotel Toplice, Park and Golf hotels.)

Natural beauty at Vintgar Gorge

Not far from Lake Bled there is a gorge which, because of its exceptional beauty, was attracting tourists as early as in the 19^th century. Wooden bridges and viewing galleries lead you down the 1.6 km long gorge among waterfalls, pools, and cascades. A stone, single-arch, former railway bridge also towers above the gorge. Vintgar Gorge, which also shares its name with other, similar gorges around Slovenia (vintgar is the Slovenian word for gorge) also take you by surprise due to its unique flora.

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From Lake Bled to the highest Slovenian mountain

You can reach Mt. Triglav (2864 m), the highest mountain in Slovenia, using different trails. The easiest, yet still quite difficult, is the mountain trail that starts on Pokljuka (6.5 h), a wooded plateau near Lake Bled. One of the educational trails in the Triglav National Park can also be found on the Pokljuka Plateau.

True taste of Lake Bled: the Bled Cream Cake

This place, which has been attracting visitors for centuries, also offers excellent culinary delights. The most famous delicacy at Lake Bled is a dessert – the Bled Cream Cake (“kremšnita”) made using an original recipe from over 60 years ago. More than 12 million pieces of this dessert have been sold in Lake Bled so far.

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