Have you ever heard of Bled, an enchanting little town in Central Europe? It lies under the Julian Alps, and belongs to one of the most interesting European countries: Slovenia. If you have ever considered visiting a fairy-tale town, but so far haven't found one, then Bled is the right place for you.
This Alpine resort has always been popular with domestic and foreign visitors alike for the following reasons: it boasts a medieval castle, a beautiful glacial lake, and an island that is situated in the middle of the lake.
Bled Castle
Bled Castle sits on top of a high cliff more than 100m above Lake Bled. It is a true medieval fortress, offering splendid views of the lake and its surroundings. The castle was first built in the 11th century, and was a residence for Bishops of Brixen for many centuries. However, Brixen Bishops rarely came to Bled from South Tyrol (Italy) as they would have to ride for approximately six days through woods and valleys where many dangers lurked. Therefore, the estate was usually managed by leaseholders, castellans and castle staff. Today, visitors to the castle are usually drawn to its museum, which holds a large collection of weapons and armour from the 16th, 17th, and the 18th century, and jewellery belonging to the early Slavs. Bled Castle also has its own wine cellar, printing works, herbal gallery, and restaurant.
Bled Island
Bled Island is the only island in Slovenia. It can be reached in three ways: you can rent a row boat, get yourself a ride in a wooden gondola called pletna, or you can swim there on a pleasant summer day. Why is this island so special? Far back in history, it was a sanctuary of the early Slavs; here they worshipped the Slavic goddess of love and fertility, Živa. Nowadays, the islet is a modern sanctuary for love and romance. Wedding vows can be exchanged at the baroque Church of the Assumption, and, if you are the lucky bride, let the groom carry you up all 99 stone steps leading to the church. The act itself is a symbol of his manhood and devotion. If you are the groom, don't worry; most guys can't handle it. You can stop yourself somewhere halfway to the top, and the bride will still appreciate this gracious act.
Vehicles are not allowed on the island; it can only be explored on foot. Those of you who are not there to exchange wedding vows, are invited to do something else. Just ring the bell in the church's belfry from the 15th century and make a wish. It may come true one day.
Lake Bled
If you are an active person, take a walk around the lake; it will take you no more than an hour and a half at the most. Along the way, admire chestnut, linden or willow trees lining the lake. If walking is not your cup of tea, then sit down on one of the numerous benches instead, and gaze at the swans gliding through the water. Other Bled activities include fishing, swimming, rowing, golfing, and shopping.
Vila Bled
In summertime, I like to visit the Vila Bled, a four-star hotel set in a beautiful park on the shore of the lake. Before World War II, the estate was the summer residence of the Yugoslav royal family, and a place where foreign aristocracy and statesmen would often enjoy fresh alpine air and thermal springs.
After the war, the property was taken over by the charismatic Yugoslav President Tito. He had it renovated according to his taste, and started using it as his favourite summer getaway. There, he would wine and dine the rich and powerful people of his time, such as Nikita Khrushchev, Indira Gandhi, Gamal Nasser, and many others. Hotel guests can send an e-mail from his desk, or sip coffee at the Belvedere Pavilion, where the mighty leader threw tea parties for his eminent guests from all over the world.
Bled Cream Cakes
When the sun comes down at the far corner of the lake, most visitors to the resort like to relax and have a bite to eat. Some decide to go for pizza, some want to try out typical Slovene dishes, but all of them want to taste something delicious and unique to Bled: Bled cream cake. This dessert, made of vanilla-flavoured, egg-based cream, with whipped cream on top, and gently placed between two layers of buttery dough, was invented in the early 1950s, and between 1953 and 2011, the pastry chefs at Bled have made and sold almost 10 million slices of this delicious dessert. Is your mouth watering a bit?
Welcome to Bled.
Tanja Batista - Tanja Batista has a BA in English Language and Literature from the Faculty of Arts, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
