Ideal for those looking for privacy and unusual routes, the extraordinarily beautiful Bled Island seems like something out of a fairytale.
Conveniently nestled in the middle of an emerald green mountain lake, known as Bled Lake, the island enchants visitors with intoxicating vistas of surrounding Alpine peaks and traditional folk-life charms.
The main attraction of the island is a unique 15th-century church, The Assumption of Mary Pilgrimage, perched on a cliff high above the lake, which still houses fragments of frescos with scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary. There is also a fascinating medieval castle enclosed by a Romanesque wall with towers, parapets and ramparts and overlooking the small yet breathtaking town of Bled from a steep cliff. Inside the castle there is a museum and a restaurant where you can enjoy great food and take in the scenery.
This tiny piece of land is the only natural island in Slovenia and a leading mountain resort where your vacation will turn into something more than extraordinary. And, by the way, the island offers a close access to Italy and Croatia.
Things to Do
The wide range of activities will fill your days with colorful moments.
Wandering or biking the dreamy path around the lake is something not to be missed (bikes can be hired from private agencies like Helia, Lifetrek, Kompas or Intergames at Velika Zaka).
Explore the surrounding areas to get a close view of the place. Take a walk around the lake and taste the vanilla-custard-and-cream cake, one of the best known desserts in Slovenia. And do not forget to make a wish and ring the bell at the island church.
It’s interesting to note that once you reach the island by boat, there are 99 stairs to get to the church and it’s a tradition of local grooms to carry their brides up these stairs, while the brides must remain silent in order to bring them happiness in the future.
Taking photos of the island and the surrounding area is also something not to be missed. Amazing four seasons a year, the island is simply a photographer’s paradise.
Other activities include: golf, fishing, skating on the lake during the winter months, kayaking and rafting, and adventure sports.
Bled is ideally located for trips to the nearby forests of the Triglav National Park, while the town itself offers many bars and restaurants, serving a mix of local Slovenian food alongside all the usual international cuisines, as well as a cinema, nightclub, and bowling alley.
How to Get There
Lake Bled is situated in north-west Slovenia and is an easy bus or car ride from the capital Ljubljana. But to get to Bled Island, you should pay a local guy to row you there in one of the country’s traditional wooden row barges, called Pletna.
When to Visit
This Alpine resort boasts a climate of long hot summers and cool winters. And these seasonal changes make it a unique sunny holiday hotspot all year round. In summer the highest temperature reaches 27°C, making it great for outdoor adventures. May through July are the best months to visit the sunny island while in winter Bled turns into a great ski resort.
SPECTACULAR, AWE-INSPIRING and FANTASTIC are just a few of the words that come to mind while thinking of this little corner of the world. In a nutshell, you’ll fell in love with the place from the very first moments your feet will touch the island.
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