JUNE 2014 : EASTERN EUROPE : Lake Bled, Slovemia

       

          

                                        

                                 

Two glorious days in Lake Bled, Slovenia

                                          

                                        

Just an hour by bus to the north of Slovenia's capital, Ljubljana, is Lake Bled. It is a glacial lake situated in the Julian Alps - 2 km long, 1.3 km wide and 30m deep. The main features of the lake are an island with a small Gothic church, completed in the seventeen century but in centuries past housed a nunnery. The other main feature is the bishop's castle, built in the eleventh century perched high on a 130m cliff on the northern side of the lake.

                                         

Our pension for 3 nights, Pension Berc. It was recommended on Lonely Planet. Established ion 1954 and has been in the family for 3 generations. Fresh local produce for breakfast and a fine dining restaurant in the grounds at night.

                                            

                                                                 Chef hard at work.

                                            

                                         Our  room with all the washing hidden on the balcony

                                              

                 No power craft are permitted on the lake so you are rowed on a pletna boat to Bled Island.

                                           

                          Lake Bled Island with the Church of the Mother of God on the Lake

                                                   

                                       

                                Up 99 steps to the church on the island. Always in training.

                                                   

                                                    

  As well as the church, cafe (of course), exhibitions, there is a bell tower with a pendulum clock that chimes every 15 minutes. All beautifully presented and considered a pilgrimage site as there is a belief that if you ring the wishing bell in the church you will have good luck. The Japanese tourists were going wild.

                                                                                

                                         

                                                          

                                       

                                  Beautiful temperature for swimming, about 21 degrees.

  The lake is extremely clean and excellent for swimming, kayaking etc. it is also permanently set up for rowing and has hosted many international events. Here Is Mark enjoying a relaxing dip,on a very hot day, 30+. The spectacular Bled Castle in the background.

                                        

                                    

A solid 15 minute climb to the castle from the lake and again very professional, with an old printing shop, castle forge, restaurants and a fascinating museum with informative geological and cultural exhibits.

                                                             

          It takes about an hour to walk around the lake - longer if you lunch and swim along the way. 

     We stopped at the Grand Hotel for afternoon tea to experience Blejska Kremna Rezina, the famous                 Bled cream cake or vanilla slice.

        

                                     

                  A view of the island, the castle and township from the western side of the lake

Lake Bled - the best kept secret in Europe!

M&M

11/6/2014

mm_smith@bigpond.net.au