Overlooking the Giulie Alps there is a small natural lake, a small blue pearl with an islet on the center on which stands a church dedicated to the assumption. A place full of legends easily accessible by train from Nova Gorica or by bus to Ljubljana.
How to reach Bled
The stop is Bled, in Slovenia, which is also the name of the town where the lake of the same name stands. A lake of glacial origin that tradition, however, sees born as a divine punishment to the local population that has not protected the chapel of the Madonna from the cattle to the pasture. God, for this carelessness, then chose to flood the meadows around the small church and therefore isolate it in the waters.
Today it can be reached by swimming but also, and much more easily, with small non -motorized boats. In fact, the regulation of the Municipality prohibits the circulation of motor vehicles on the lake’s waters to preserve its natural beauty. Not bad, however, for lovers who can be granted a romantic navigation on the Pletna with rowing, the characteristic boats made available to tourists.
The bell of desires and its legends
Once you arrive on the island and visited the chapel, a pilgrimage destination, we must not forget to play the bell of desires: according to the beliefs, those who play it will see their dreams transform actually. Like the lake, the bell also has a legend linked to its birth: built by merging together the jewels of a rich lady. Too bad that during the transport on the island this bell fell from the boat ending forever on the bottom of the lake. There are those who swear they hear the sound of that precious bell come from the depths of the waters on starry nights.
Bled Castle
Finally, wandering for the island of Bled, it can certainly happen to look up and remain thrilled in front of the imposing castle perched above the town. Its construction dates back to the beginning of the 1000 years when Enrico II decided to donate Bled’s land to the Bishop of Bressanone. In the realization they gave great importance to the construction of the defensive structures while much less care have put it in realizing the interiors, but on the other hand the bishops never lived in it. Today, however, restored in the sixties of the 1900s, it has become a museum on the history of the country and an exhibition space for events and exhibitions.
Sports and recreational activities
Lake Bled offers an extraordinary range of activities for each season and every level of physical preparation. During the summer months, the crystal clear waters invite to swimming in equipped bathing areas, while aquatic sports enthusiasts can vent into rowing and kayak, disciplines for which Bled is internationally famous, regularly hosting world competitions.
For those who prefer to stay on the mainland, the panoramic path that completely surrounds the lake offers a walk of about 6 kilometers perfect also for morning jogging.
Cycling lovers can instead try their hand at the numerous paths that wind through the surrounding woods and reach spectacular panoramic points such as Mala Oosojnica and Velika Oosojnica.
In winter, when the temperatures go down enough, the lake turns into a natural skating rink, while the surroundings offer opportunities for cross -country skiing, sleds and romantic walks with snowshoes through the snowy woods.
The cream cake: the furniture symbol of the place
No visit to Bled can be said to be complete without having tasted the famous Kremšnita, the cream cake that since 1953 represents the sweet symbol of the locality. This delicious dessert, composed of crispy puff pastry stuffed with custard and whipped cream, was perfected by the master pastry chef Ištvan Lukačević who codified the original recipe. Bled’s Kremšnita stands out from the variants of other countries for its perfect proportions: exactly 7 centimeters per side and 5.2 centimeters in height. The Park Hotellocated directly on the lakefront, it is considered the temple of the authentic Kremšnita, where hundreds of portions are churned out every day following the traditional recipe. Other renowned places to taste this dessert are the Gostilna Lectar in the historic center and the Café Belvedere with its panoramic terrace.
