Today we will look at one of the most beautiful sights in Slovenia. This country is famous for its wonderful nature and historical monuments. Lake Bled (Slovenia) combines beautiful landscapes and cultural attractions. This is a presentable spa resort where you can improve your he alth in thermal springs. What do the reviews of tourists say about holidays on Lake Bled? Is it worth trusting a beautiful photo representing a blue-green expanse in the middle of wonderful mountains? Read about it in our article.
Lake Bled: how to get there
This natural body of water is located in northwestern Slovenia, in the Carniola region. Only forty-five kilometers separate it from the capital of the country, Ljubljana. And Brnik International Airport is even closer - only 32 km. On the shores of Lake Bled is the town of the same name with a population of five thousand inhabitants. Getting to this resort is not a problem. Nearby are a railway line and a highway leading fromLjubljana in Villach. Tourists are advised to get to the lake by train. The railway station Jezero Bled stands almost on the shore. The road is very beautiful, leading along the picturesque river Soča. Lake Bled (Slovenia) has a border position. Only eight kilometers to the north - and you are already in Austria. And if you follow west, after 40 km you will be met by sunny Italy. And this pleasant neighborhood must be taken advantage of - Schengen visa holders recommend. From the town of Bled, roads lead to the mountains: to the Triglav National Reserve, to another natural attraction in Slovenia - Lake Bohinj (20 minutes drive), to the ski resort of Kranjska Gora.
Geography and climate
The reservoir is of glacial origin. It is located at an altitude of five hundred meters above sea level, in the foothills of the Julian Alps. Once, during the period of global cooling, the glacier slid down the slopes and pushed through a depression with its mass, which was then filled with melt water. This is how Lake Bled was formed. Now the reservoir is fed by cold mountain rivers and hot springs, beating in its depths. Sometimes these thermal springs are assigned to the pools of coastal hotels. In winter, the lake freezes only in very severe frosts, which do not occur every year. In summer, the water warms up to + 20-24 ° C. The swimming season here opens in June and ends in early September. But this does not mean that the rest of the time life at the resort stops. After a short lull, a ski holiday begins on Lake Bled (Slovenia). The resort has a unique microclimate withlots of sunny days. The lake itself is not very big. Its length is a little more than two kilometers and its width is one and a half. But the reservoir is deep enough. The maximum parameters are 30 meters. In the middle of the lake is the islet Blejski otok.
Where to stay
The resort began to develop at the end of the nineteenth century, when the town and lake Bled (in German Veldeser See) were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Therefore, one should not be surprised at the presence of a large number of old villas and hotels here. The lion's share of hotels have three or four stars on their sign. But there are enough budget hostels and luxurious "fives" in the resort. The private sector offers a wide range of accommodation, from modest apartments to villas. Most of the hotels are concentrated on the east coast. In the west of Lake Bled there is only a campsite, the conditions in which the reviews are praised. If you are a lover of solitude, choose the southern part of the reservoir. There are only a few hotels located at a distance from each other. Tourists note that virgin nature - crystal waterfalls, deep gorges, mountains and the Pokljuka plateau - are combined with high-quality European service. And, as all the reviews say, a vacation on Lake Bled will cost you several times cheaper than on Garda or Lago Maggiore in neighboring Italy.
Summer Resort
Most tourists come to the town of Bled in the warm season for swimming and sunbathing. But only one hotel on the lake has its own beach. This is a luxury spa hotel."Grand Toplice". There are two beaches in the town of Bled itself. One of them is well equipped, but paid. It is located opposite the Park Hotel. On the second beach - at the hotel "Villa Bled" - admission is free. True, you should not count on any luxurious conditions there. In addition to a beach holiday, “summer” tourists can swim to the islet on traditional “pletna” boats. They look like Venetian gondolas - with a canopy from the sun. On the island is the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. If you strike the bell at this chapel three times and make a wish, then it will surely (at least, so the tourists assure) come true. In summer you can rent mountain bikes or go hiking. A tourist train travels around the entire Lake Bled. Photos taken from such a train will be calculated in gigabytes.
Winter Resort
From the end of December to March, the town of Bled comes to life again. In winter, it transforms into one of the major ski resorts in Slovenia. Although, as the reviews warn, the aces will find it boring there. The slopes are most suitable for beginners and those cautious skiers who avoid extreme sports. But the nearest track with two lifts (saddle and ski lifts) is located just one hundred and fifty meters from the center of the town. Its length is 820 meters, and the height difference is 135 m (from 635 to five hundred). A free shuttle bus runs around the resort, delivering skiers from all hotels to the lower lift station. Tourists who come to Lake Bled in winter can purchase a ski pass that allows you to ski not only on the slopes of thisresort, but also the entire area of Kranjska Gora, which also includes Vogel and Kobla. A distance of twenty kilometers to higher mountains will help to overcome the ski bass. The ticket price includes not only passes to the ski lifts, but also the use of the skating rink in the Sports Palace, and a visit to Bled Castle. Ski slopes are equipped with snow cannons and lighting in the evening.
Must see
The main cultural attraction that glorified Lake Bled (Slovenia), reviews call the castle of the same name. It was built on top of a 130-meter sheer cliff right above the water surface. In written sources, the castle (originally called Feldes) was first mentioned in 1004. Then Emperor Henry II granted this stronghold to Bishop Albuin of Brixen. After the Battle of Dry Kruty (1278), the castle, together with the entire province of Carniola, went to Rudolf I of the Habsburg dynasty. The region was part of Austria-Hungary until the end of the First World War. Only for a short time, from 1809 to 1816, the castle was part of the Napoleonic Illyrian provinces. When Krajna became part of Yugoslavia, Bled became the summer royal residence of the Karageorgievichs. The socialist leader Josip Broz Tito also praised the beauty of the castle. This medieval fortress, repeatedly rebuilt and expanded by subsequent owners, became a museum in independent Slovenia. Reviews highly recommend visiting this castle. You will not regret spending eight euros. The castle has two courtyards, which are located one above the other andconnected by stairs. Downstairs are the outbuildings, and upstairs are living quarters and a 16th-century chapel. The castle is surrounded by a moat with a drawbridge.
Be sure to try
No less popular than the medieval citadel and the church on the island, enjoys the local cake "flint rubber". This funny name translates as "a cut off piece of soufflé." A local delicacy is puff pastry with a layer of custard. When you come to rest on Lake Bled, be sure to try this cake. The most delicious is served in the coffee shop of the Park Hotel.
Entertainment
The surface of the lake is not puffed by puffing boats and noisy motor boats or water scooters. We care about the environment here. Lake Bled reviews are called "amazingly clean", "crystal", "pristine". However, it annually hosts international rowing competitions. There are so many fish in the waters of the lake that it fearlessly rubs itself against the bodies of the bathers. The shores are dotted with tennis courts and golf courses. A concert hall, a casino and an entertainment center have been built for people far from sports.
