Lake Bled Slovenia: A Fairytale Lake In The Julian Alps
Lake Bled Slovenia is an unmissable destination that you must visit if you plan to explore the beauties of the Balkan countries! Lake Bled is located in the town of Bled in Slovenia. Slovenia, a Balkan country, is surrounded by the Alps to the northwest, the Adriatic Sea to the west, Croatia to the south, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north.
Slovenia offers different activities during all seasons. Due to its diverse nature, from the mountain peaks to the shores of the Adriatic Sea, you can spend the winter and summer in Slovenia.
The capital of Slovenia is Ljubljana, and its most famous tourist destination is Bled, located on Lake Bled at an altitude of 507m.
On the Balkan tour, organized in April, one day will be dedicated to visiting the natural Lake Bled Slovenia. In the rest of this blog, find out what awaits you on this fabulous lake! Discover the Balkans with Balkland Travel!
Lake Bled Slovenia is one of the most visited and famous natural attractions in Slovenia. It is located in the Julian Alps at an altitude of 475m. The lake is about 30 meters deep and covers an area of about 2 square kilometers.
During the Ice Age about 14,000 years ago, glacial activity created this lake. Although glaciers originally formed the lake, it is ideal for swimming due to being filled with water from several thermal springs. During the summer months, the water temperature in the lake usually reaches a pleasant 20-25 degrees Celsius!
The fairy-tale blue lake is attractive to the vast majority of tourists due to its versatility. According to research by travel enthusiasts, May to October is the best time to visit Lake Bled Slovenia.
Along the entire length of Lake Bled Slovenia, there is a promenade that allows you to discover every millimeter of this magical lake. This pedestrian area consists entirely of wood, offering not just leisurely walking but also cycling around the lake!
Near the lake, there is a pebble beach where you can relax and enjoy both summer and winter days. For fishing lovers, we have great news! Lake Bled is home to 19 species of sea urchin, and fishing is allowed.
If you want to experience Lake Bled Slovenia from a different, bird’s eye perspective, there are viewpoints around the lake that will fulfill your wish! Surrounding the lake are the Alps and beautiful wooded areas that will enhance your entire experience.
Visit Bled Castle
The beautiful natural landscapes of Lake Bled will undoubtedly leave you breathless! But that’s not all that this fairytale part of Slovenia offers to tourists who want to explore the beauties of the Balkans. Bled Castle is located on a rocky hill above Lake Bled.
They built the castle 1000 years ago, and it is a real historical and tourist attraction. In the previous part of the text, we mentioned the vistas that will provide you with a true paradise for the eyes, and it is the Bled Castle that will provide you with the most beautiful view of Lake Bled Slovenia.
Inside the castle, you can visit several museums and exhibition spaces that talk about the history of the castle and the region where the castle is located. In the museums, you will get to know medieval exhibits, weapons, as well as exhibits that illustrate life in the past.
With our Balkan tour you will also visit Bled Castle, which can be easily reached either on foot or by car. Tourists can use the paths that lead from the lake to the top of the hill where the castle is located. For those who do not enjoy walking a lot, there is also a road that you can travel by car.
Mary’s Church on Lake Bled Slovenia: Visit the church and make a wish
The historically important Bled Castle is not the only important attraction on Bled Lake Slovenia. Mary’s Church on Lake Bled Slovenia is an unmissable attraction. Mary’s Church is located in the middle of the lake and is the only natural islet in Slovenia.
During our Balkan tour, Balkland also organized a visit to Murray’s Church, which was built in the 17th century. The church has Gothic frescoes dating back to 1470. Inside the church, in addition to the frescoes, you will also find furniture in the Baroque style. To get to Mary’s Church, you must first climb 99 steps. There are various interesting stories about this small island, the church, and the bell tower of this church.
The church on the island of Bled, originally dedicated to Ziva, the Old Slavic goddess of life and fertility, later gave way to the church of St. Mary. This area’s association with various myths and legends, including the Legend of the Sunken Bell, is well-known.
Climb to the top of the church and make a wish
Legend tells that the depths of Lake Bled sometimes echo with the sound of bells on quiet nights. Where does the bell at the bottom of Lake Bled come from? At Bled Castle at 4 p.m. century lived a widow, whom no one could console for the loss of her husband. To drive away her sadness, she decided to make a bell out of her gold, as a memory of her husband. As the bell reached Mary’s church, a strong storm started and the bell sank. The widow died very soon after that, and the then Pope decided to make a new bell.
Today, according to popular belief, that bell fulfills wishes.
According to local belief, if a visitor rings the bell three times, and makes a wish, the wish will come true! This magical sound, transmitted through the centuries, enchants visitors with the power of tradition and belief in wish fulfillment.
Tourists don’t miss trying their luck, so don’t you either! Alongside Balkland, explore the magical church and imagine the wish you want to fulfill. And don’t forget, don’t ask for more than one wish!
How to get to the church?
Yes, you can swim to this natural islet, but only if you are a good swimmers and if you have visited Lake Bled Slovenia during the summer period. In other cases, you can reach Mary’s Church in several other ways.
You can rent a wooden boat if you want to row yourself and enjoy the slow sailing to the islets. You can rent wooden boats by the hour.
Another option is to sail on a traditional wooden boat – a Pletna boat. Pletna boat datira još iz 1590. godine nove ere. Local craftsmen make this boat, somewhat reminiscent of a Venetian gondola. This boat is 7 meters long and 2 meters wide, and a total of 18 people can fit in it.
And finally, the third option is to sail an electric boat. The boat runs according to the schedule, and the ideal is that you choose the date for departure from the islet.
Bled Slovenia: Famous Balkan Tourist Town
The Balkan countries have a lot to offer. Natural beauty, great locals, great gastronomic offer, interesting history and historical stories. Whether you choose Multy-Day tours, Culinary tours or Balkan tours, on those trips you will have the opportunity to get to know the Balkans and its beauties in the best possible way.
Bled Slovenia is one of the most famous tourist towns in the Balkans. It is a small town with just over 5,000 inhabitants, but it is full of natural beauty. Bled is located at the foot of the Julian Alps and offers various activities during both summer and winter days.
The origins of tourism on Bled trace back to pilgrims who visit the Church of the Assumption on the island. The area also gained popularity for its idyllic scenery and thermal springs, attracting visitors such as Sir Humphrey Davy and fueling nationalistic sentiments among Slovenians.
At an altitude of 507m, Bled with its healthy climate affects people’s health. It is renowned for water therapy, healthy baths, and nutritious programs. Because of this, many tourists come not only to enjoy the beautiful landscapes of Bled but to take the best of the nature that this part of Slovenia has to offer.
The unique Bled cream cake – Kremšnita
When you decide to rest after a long walk around Lake Bled Slovenia, we recommend you try the popular homemade Bled cream cake Kremšnita. They make this delicious Bled cream cake on the island of Bled according to an original and special recipe.
Bled often hosts a festival dedicated to Kremšnita, where different pastry shops compete to create the best version of this culinary masterpiece. This festival brings together gourmets and gourmets from different parts of the world. Sweet bites of this cake will allow you to fully feel the atmosphere of Bled and Lake Bled Slovenia.
In 2016, the Slovenian government declared it a protected dish of designated origin, dating back to the Habsburg era. The current “official” recipe was created in 1953 by Ištvan Lukačević.
Conclusion
The Balkan tour which includes a visit to Lake Bled Slovenia brings a combination of adventure, culture, and gastronomic delights. Traveling through the Balkans becomes a richer experience when you discover the magic of this Slovenian pearl. Regardless of whether you are a lover of nature, history, or gastronomy, Lake Bled during the Balkan Tour offers a unique combination of experiences that remains etched in the memory of every traveler.
During the Balkan tour, Balkland chose the most beautiful and significant Balkan destinations that you will visit
Hi, I’m Mike—co-founder of Balkland and your on-the-ground tour leader. I’m involved from the first message to the final farewell, making sure everything feels effortless and every day feels designed around you.