Bled is a small but charming city in Slovenia blessed with stunning natural beauty, some good historical attractions, and a sublime geographical location south of the Alps. It's best known for its beautiful castle, glistening lake, and the island in the middle of the lake.
The grand Bled Castle, perched on a high rock above the lake, towers over the city. The castle is now arranged as an exhibition area, and the display rooms near the chapel present the ancient history of Bled from the first excavations. Lake Bled is renowned for its exceptional beauty, with a stunning background of mountains, including the Jelovica and Pokljuka, the Julian Alps (with their highest peak, the Triglav, as the symbol of the nation), and the Karavanke Mountains. Coachmen called 'fijaker' take visitors for rides around the lake and to Bled Castle.
In the centre of the lake is a tiny island that houses the Church of the Assumption. Both the island and the church have a rich history, and inside the church is a wishing bell from 1534. The best way to get to the island is by the traditional Bled special boat called 'pletna'. The pleasant trip on the lake typically includes a half-hour stop on the island. There has also been a tradition for lovers to swim out the island and ring the church's bell, to affirm their love, and throughout the summer you can here the trademark ringing.
Bled's Wellness Centre is a great place to relax with fitness, aerobics, yoga, karate, massage, sauna and whirlpools. Alternatively, well-maintained footpaths will take you to the hills above the Lake Bled. For more excitement, ski touring is popular in the mountains close to Bled, the Julian Alps and the Karavanke. Bled's Casino also provides pleasant distraction. One of the best ways to appreciate Lake Bled is to hire bicycles and take leisurely ride (about 1 - 2 hours) around the lake's pretty shore, stopping to relax on its grassy banks or take a swim.
Not too far away, the Bohinj region has a pristine high-mountain lake, and boasts the Vogel, Kobla and Soriška planina ski centres. There is also a strong ethnological heritage here, with some interesting cultural and sacred sites. The Pokljuka plateau is a paradise for hikers, mushroom hunters, and cross-country skiers and is the site of major world biathlon competitions. Ljubljana is an hour away by road and offers an array of cultural sights and modern amenities.
Visitors can arrive in Slovenia via one of the border crossings with Italy, Austria, Hungary or Croatia; Slovenia's highways are good and clearly signposted. Rail connections are excellent, with lines from Italy, Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Yugoslavia and Macedonia. Connections can be made to Bled by bus from larger cities in Slovenia. By sea, vessels arrive at the international border crossings in Koper, Piran and in Izola (seasonal). Slovenia's national carrier Adria Airways offers regular scheduled flights from most major European cities to Brnik Airport, 36kms away.
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