Bled

We visited Bled in August 2006 and stayed at the hotel Penzion Berc.

Lake Bled

The lake is adjacent to the town of Bled. In many cases the town will be referred to as “Lake Bled”. The lake is glacial and is 2,120 m (6,960 ft) long and 1,380 m (4,530 ft) wide, with a maximum depth of 29.5 m (97 ft).

There are paths, roads and duckboards which mean that you can walk around the whole of the lake.

Here come the duckboards, one slip and you’re in the lake.

Bled Island

One of the main attractions in Bled is a visit to Bled island.

The reason for going is to visit the Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Maria. Once the boat has landed there are 99 steps to reach the church. When you arrive at the church you can make a wish and then ring the church bell, legend has it that this will make your dreams come true. Traditionally if someone gets married they are supposed to carry the bride all the way up the steps.

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.

There is a regular service so you don’t have to wait long

As you approach the island there is a clear view of the steps, from this distance it doesn’t look a particularly steep climb.

The view from the top to the boat gives a much better idea of how steep.

looking across the lake from the church the castle can be seen high on the hill.

Wherever you walk around the lake you can always see the church.

View of the castle from the lake.

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.

One of the fresco’s inside the chapel at the castle.

When you get to the top it doesn’t feel like a castle it feels like being in a small village

Vintgar Gorge

Not far from Bled there is the Vintgar Gorge which, because of its exceptional beauty, was attracting tourists as early as in the 19th century. There are wooden bridges and viewing galleries that lead down the 1.6 km long gorge among waterfalls, pools, and cascades. A stone, single-arch, former railway bridge also towers above the gorge.

Outside Bled

Many visitors never explore further than the village itself however a short distance and you are in to the beautiful alpine countryside.

The fields seem to have grass and then a strip of crops, it looks odd to us. In the UK we tend to have whole fields of the same crop.

Rush hour!!

In the countryside there are some stunning houses, like Austria and Switzerland.

The first time we had ever seen cows with bells round their necks – welcome to the Alps.

After the sun goes down.