#Assumption of Mary Church Bled Island

[suetravelblog]

Ljubljana and Lake Bled Slovenia

Ljubljana and Lake Bled Slovenia

[vestaignis]

Настоящая жемчужина Юлианских Альп, чудо словенской природы — озеро Блед.

Словения славится различными достопримечательностями, однако этот древний водоем, образовавшийся миллионы лет назад в результате таяния ледника, является одним из ярчайших природных памятников страны. Миниатюрное, как сама Словения, озеро достигает всего 2,12 км в длину и 1,30 км в ширину.Окружают озеро звышенности различной высоты – от Осойницы, достигающей 756 метров до 558-метрового Козарца.

Красивейшей вершиной в окрестностях озера является замок Блед – средневековая крепость, возведенная на круче над одноименным городом. Замок Блед в Словении является старейшим, а первые упоминания о нем встречаются в хрониках с 1011 года. К горе, на которой расположен замок, а также к другим возвышенностям, с которых открывается прекрасный вид на водную гладь озера, ведет прогулочная тропа протяженностью шесть километров. Дорожка, огибающая озеро, очень популярна у отдыхающих: здесь можно спокойно посидеть на скамейке и покормить лебедей.

Самым популярным туристическим объектом является, конечно, остров Блед. Когда ледник, наполнивший собой тектоническую чашу, растаял и заполнил водой все вплоть до окрестных гор, крошечная часть суши осталась незатопленной. Люди с незапамятных времен ценили энергетику этого места. Сегодня остров венчает церковь Успения Пресвятой Девы Марии, однако вплоть до XVII столетия здесь находился храм поклонения славянской богине любви и плодородия Живе. Церковь на острове Блед сегодня – одно из самых популярных мест заключения браков.Сам храм являет собой памятник искусства: здесь можно найти готические фрески и отделку в стиле барокко.

На Бледе есть чем увлечься не только любителям красоты и истории, но и адептам активного отдыха. Озеро является тектоническим бассейном глубиной 30,6 метров, что делает его идеальным для дайвинга. Кроме того, здесь очень популярен гребной спорт, а также туристы найдут здесь массу других занятий – от прогулочных лодок и каяков летом, до зимнего сезона катания на коньках. А после прогулки по снежным окрестностям можно согреться, посетив термальные источники, находящиеся на северо-западной стороне озера.

A true pearl of the Julian Alps, a miracle of Slovenian nature - Lake Bled.

Slovenia is famous for its various attractions, but this ancient body of water, formed millions of years ago as a result of the melting of a glacier, is one of the most striking natural monuments of the country. Miniature, like Slovenia itself, the lake is only 2.12 km long and 1.30 km wide. The lake is surrounded by hills of varying heights - from Osojnica, reaching 756 meters to 558-meter Kozarac.

The most beautiful peak in the vicinity of the lake is Bled Castle - a medieval fortress built on a steep slope above the city of the same name. Bled Castle in Slovenia is the oldest, and the first mentions of it are found in chronicles from 1011. A six-kilometre walking trail leads to the mountain on which the castle is located, as well as to other hills with a beautiful view of the lake. The path that goes around the lake is very popular with holidaymakers: here you can sit quietly on a bench and feed the swans.

The most popular tourist attraction is, of course, the island of Bled. When the glacier that filled the tectonic bowl melted and filled everything with water up to the surrounding mountains, a tiny part of the land remained unflooded. People have valued the energy of this place since time immemorial. Today, the island is crowned by the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, but up until the 17th century, there was a temple of worship of the Slavic goddess of love and fertility, Živa. The church on the island of Bled is today one of the most popular places for marriage. The temple itself is a monument of art: here you can find Gothic frescoes and Baroque decoration.

Bled has something to offer not only to lovers of beauty and history, but also to fans of active recreation. The lake is a tectonic basin with a depth of 30.6 meters, which makes it ideal for diving. Rowing is also very popular here, and tourists will also find a lot of other activities here - from pleasure boats and kayaks in the summer to ice skating in the winter. And after a walk in the snowy surroundings, you can warm up by visiting the thermal springs located on the northwestern side of the lake.

Источник:/www.tripadvisor.ru/Attraction_Review-g274863-d296735-Reviews-Lake_Bled-Bled_Upper_Carniola_Region.html, /kotsport .ru /ozero-bled-sloveniya,/lenorlux.livejournal.com/150329.html, welcome 2slovenia.com/bled-slovenia/, //bestslovenia.com/bled-lake, /sunsetobsession.com/ru/озеро-блед-что-посмотреть/, /www. youtube.com/shorts/QqdrO4q2j-s.

[ematrninic]

Trip to Lake Bled and Ljubljana

Activity title: Visiting Lake Bled and Ljubljana

Duration and time: April 8th, 2023

Type of activity: creativity, activity

Learning outcomes:

Identify own strengths and develop areas of growth 

Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience

Show commitment and perseverance in CAS experiences

Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process

Activity description:

Visiting Bled and Ljubljana with my friend Marija.

Reflection:

As spring break started, Marija and I decided to go on a quick trip to Slovenia. We went by a bus, because none of us drives (yet:)). The time spent in the bus was amazing because we were able to sleep the whole time (which was also the best sleep of our lives). 

The first stop was Lake Bled, where we had a nice welcome from the tour guide. He was very friendly and throughout humour, told the history of Bled, that goes all the way back to the Stone Age, when humans were first traced there. The most interesting part of Bled's history for me, was about Bled Island and Bled Castle. 

Bled Island  (Blejski otok) is famous for the church that is placed there called the Assumption of Mary (Cerkev Marijinega vnebovzetja) that was originally built around the year of 1470. However, the church's current form was re-built in the 17th century. Tourists are able to visit this place and come by a canoe. The time needed to come to the island is around 40 minutes. A part of the church is a 52 m long tower. Weddings are frequently held here and as part of the tradition, it is considered good luck for the groom to carry his bride (on the day of the wedding) up the 99 stone steps that are placed in the tower. Unfortunately, since it was cold and raining, we weren't able to go this island (this time).

Bled Castle (Blejski grad) is the oldest Slovenian castle, firstly mentioned in 1011, in a May deed donation issued by Emperor Henry II. It is placed above the lake and it takes around 20 minutes to get to the castle by steps. Marija and I were a little complaining here because it started to rain and the jumpers and havy coats that we wore that day, werent practical. After we got the top and paid 30 euros for the entrance, we were really disapointed becuase other then a good view and skin products store, you can only see stone.. 

When we came to Ljubljana it was already late, so we ended up staying there for only 2 hours. 

All in all, we had a really good time as always, and we are looking forward for our next trip together.

[philosibies]

The Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Mary, on Bled Island in Slovenia. Built in the 17th century. [2480 × 1653][OC] via /r/ArchitecturePorn https://www.reddit.com/r/ArchitecturePorn/comments/e1ll8j/the_pilgrimage_church_of_the_assumption_of_mary/?utm_source=ifttt

[yousakana]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ゆう さかな (@yousakana)

透明 Lake Bled (Slovene: Blejsko jezero; German: Bleder See, Veldeser See) is a lake in the Julian Alps of the Upper Carniolan region of northwestern Slovenia, where it adjoins the town of Bled. The lake surrounds Bled Island (Blejski otok). The island has several buildings, the main one being the pilgrimage church dedicated to the Assumption of Mary (Cerkev Marijinega vnebovzetja), built in its current form near the end of the 17th century, and decorated with remains of Gothic frescos from around 1470 in the presbyterium and rich Baroque equipment. #ブレッド湖 #ブレッド城 #スロベニア #スロベニア旅行 #スロベニア🇸🇮 #リュブリャナ #lake #lakebled #bled #slovene #Blejsko #jezero #German #Bleder #See #Veldeser #Julian #Alps #Carniolan #Slovenia #Ljubljana #Medieval #BledCastle #BledIsland #Blejskiotok (Bled Slovenia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1VrpluD7jj/?igshid=16cspehg3v5px

[johbeil]

View from inside the Assumption of Mary church on Bled Island, Lake Bled, Slovenia

Leica R3 on Lomography Slide/X-Pro film, cross-processed.

[catholic-academia-aesthetic]

the Church of Mary the Queen (also known as the Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Mary or Our Lady of the Lake) on a small island in the middle of Lake Bled

Early morning at Lake Bled (Slovenia) by Artem Sapegin  

[foodinfotos]

There’s a burgeoning beer scene in Slovenia and some wonderful scenery too. Nick sees if something can successfully be organised in a brewery.

  The men in the ‘pub’ of the Union Brewery in Ljubljana are in fine voice tonight. As a woman cranks rousing tunes out of an accordion that’s almost as big as she is, they roar out the choruses whilst waving mugs of beer to the beat.

It’s all sung in Slovenian of course, so I have no idea what the words mean, but I’m happy to raise my own glass and cheer loudly at the end of each song. The conviviality meter has gone off the scale here in this packed bar/restaurant.

Also off the scale is the platter of meat in front of me featuring slabs of pork, tangles of spicy sausages, juicy spare ribs and more all piled onto sauerkraut and baked potatoes.

I try glass after glass of the excellent range of Union beers from the passing waitresses, all dressed in traditional costume, the brews certainly wash down the meat a treat.

A few hours earlier I’d taken the Union Experience, a tour of the ancient parts of this massive brewery that was founded in 1864, exploring areas full of original beer-making machinery, viewing the state of the art modern production section and trying some beers.

Yes, the Slovenians love the stuff, there’s no denying it. And alongside the massive Union Brewery, a whole host of small craft beer breweries have sprung up in recent years. Lagers, wheat beers and ales and malty porters and stouts in many styles and guises.

Some are becoming very famous, like the ones from Loo-blah-nah Brewery, the phonetic pronunciation of the capital city  Ljubljana. Their label proudly carries a picture of a dragon, the symbol of the city and they already brew a classic English Pale Ale that puts many of our own to shame.

Tektonic is another name that you’ll find on many bottles in the bars in town, they make brews called Magda, Sir Williams, Pop’s Place, Slovenska hiša, TOZD, and Cutty Sark. All delicious.

In fact, craft breweries are generally springing up like mushrooms in Slovenia which are, ironically, another delight in this country that is 60% green space. The main market in town is a treasure trove of fungi at this time of year with small pickers selling superb examples from trestle tables.

Love Ljubljana

It’s a very pretty city – attractive bars and cafes line both sides of the Ljubljanica River that divides the city’s old town. It’s easy and stress free to easy to walk around as a few years ago they took the radical step of pedestrianising the centre.

Now the only traffic to avoid is bicycles, and the sole intrusive sound is that of the soft whirr of the electric Kavalirs (Gentle Helpers) the free public transport option for the elderly, mobility-impaired and visitors. Just hail one and it’ll stop for you, too.

Walking however best reveals the true beauty of the marvellous baroque buildings while tourist boats putter under the many bridges.

The all wood ‘Ljubljanica’, which you can pick up from the pier on the Breg embankment, is the most romantic boat option. I happily sat up front, drinking in the sites as we headed up and down stream.

And while all the bars and restaurants offer tempting food, the Strelec Restaurant in  the imposing 900 year old  Ljubljana Castle that looms over the city, is perhaps the finest choice.

Take the funicular railway to the castle and up in the old Archers’ Tower and you’ll enjoy a well-priced but very fine-dining version of Slovenian cuisine.

A platter of beef tartar and smoked goose liver with pickled Jerusalem artichoke and a hazelnut mayonnaise was followed by venison, goose liver, smoked parsnip puree and Krško-polje bacon, named after the pig of the region.

And surprisingly vegetarians are well-catered for too, there was a roasted cauliflower and hazelnut dish as well as a rich soup flavoured with local truffles.

All the dishes were presented to MasterChef standard and the Slovenian wines – a Doppler Sauvignon 2017 and a Kristancic Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 – both very good examples of the quality Slovenian wine can achieve.

The loveliest place in the world?

Slovenia has more lakes and forest than it has inhabited regions. Leave Ljubljana and you’re almost instantly in countryside, the high mountains visible in almost every direction you look.

And at Lake Bled almost everywhere you look is also a Japanese or Chinese tourist armed with selfie stick. This is one of the must-see attractions on their grand coach trips around Europe and it’s easy to see why.

The 12th Century castle has a stunning position on a high cliff over the lake, totally unassailable on most of one side owing to the sheer drop. But beautiful as the castle is, the view looking down from it is even better.

In the middle of Lake Bled is a small island where the Assumption of Mary Church stands. A typical flat-bottomed boat, a pletna, rowed by a man who stands at the back, takes you the foot of the 99 steps up to the church. I had to stop three times to get my breath climbing up but it was worth it.

The incessant sound bell ringing from the tower that drifts across the lake is not the fault of a deranged campanologist, but of an old tradition that says if you ring the bell your wish will come true. Perhaps many locals have come to the church to wish the bell to stop.

Back on dry land, in the village by the lake once dominated by Tito’s holiday home, there’s a small, old-fashioned, but good restaurant – the Restaurant Sova.

Try the slow cooked veal cheek baked in prosciutto with the local cheese, kajmak, with a mustard cream and mashed potato. It’s a rib sticker of the best kind.

But back to the beer. A visit to Carniola Brewery in Žirovnica on my way home to the Four Points Hotel in Ljubljana finds a manically impassioned owner/brewer presiding over a compact brewery in an industrial park. He’s also squeezed in an on-site bar that’s open on Thursday and Friday afternoons, and all-day Saturday, with draft and bottled beers on sale.

He’s been producing many interesting beers since 2012 and doing well enough, he tells me, to be now awaiting delivery of much larger equipment so he can step up production to meet demand.

After a quick tour and several beers, I can see why his beers are popular, really fine quality and interesting flavours.

Craft beer is so big across Europe these days that the Four Points group of hotels have cleverly decided to make it a feature of their own bars. Every Four Points hotel has a signature pub where guests and locals can enjoy the brand’s Best Brews and BBQ™ programme.

Best Brews offers guests the chance to sample craft beers and enjoy authentic local flavours at every hotel pub across the brand’s 200+ property portfolio, with each brew strategically chosen for its unique flavour, popularity, and quality ingredients.

That night my Four Points restaurant put on a superb meal featuring matched local beers to show the kitchen’s skills. Smoked local hams, marinated trout and beetroot with goats cheese all went down well with a bottle of Tektonik Hercule Wheatbeer and Buckwheat porridge with porcini and sour cream and a dish of polenta and cheese was brilliant with Hopsbrew Juicy IPA

And the Loo- Blah-Nah Porter was excellent with dishes of cheese, pumpkin and truffles, and a miniburger with Kranjska sausage.

It was a very impressive meal at this very smart hotel handily located just on the outskirts of the city and close to the airport.

I got the impression Four Points genuinely care about giving guests a real local experience and the staff very knowledgeable about the beer and food being served.

The next day, slightly the worse for wear, I savaged the hotel breakfast – so much good stuff to choose from with a chap cooking eggs, proper crispy bacon and actual, real, sausages and not those peculiar sausages that you only ever find in hotels.

Just a short flight away, Ljubljana offers a short-break experience that satisfies body and soul. The body can tuck away all the beers and the soul can soar with the breathataking scenery. Na zdravje! Or cheers as we say back here.

FlyWith Easy Jet or Wizz Air

Take a visual tour

  StayAt Four Points Ljubljana 

         Going out for a beer, or several, in Slovenia There’s a burgeoning beer scene in Slovenia and some wonderful scenery too. Nick sees if something can successfully be organised in a brewery.

[franchristiaan]

The Bled Island at the Lake Bled, Slovenia. - One of several buildings on the island is the pilgrimage church dedicated to the Assumption of Mary, built in its current form in 17th century. It has Gothic frescos in the interior and Baroque style ornaments in the exterior. - (10/10/17) . . . . . . . . . . #slovenia #instaslovenia #instabled #bled #lakebled #europe #eurotrip #latepost #throwback #instagood #instadaily #igers #photooftheday #photography #ongooglemaps #panoramic #panorama #lake #sky #blue #skyblue #instanature #bledisland #bledchurch #island #church #exploringeurope #explore #exploreeurope #beautiful #beautifuleurope #tbt #throwbackthursday #ifeelsLOVEnia #itsculturetime #slovenia_ig #igersslovenia #landscape (at Bled, Slovenia)

[lamoille-house]

Lake Bled- What to Know Before You Go There

Lake Bled lies at the northwest side of Slovenia. This place is an excellent tourist spot where people love to come, spend lovely times, make wishes, and to create unforgettable and sweet memories. The distance of the Lake Bled from Ljubljana International Airport is 35 km. And from the capital, Ljubljana, of the Bled town, the distance is 55 km.

This Lake is 4.2 km far from the Lesce-Bled train station. The depth of the Lake Bled is 97 ft. Here, you can see lake Bled castle that is the oldest castle in Slovenia. 

 Things to Do in Lake Bled

Top three reasons that say you should visit Lake Bled

1. Enjoy the landscape of nature

When you visit Lake Bled, we assure you that the scenic beauty of here will captivate your mind. The picturesque elegance of the mountains is one of the fascinating things there. If you love to travel, then you must go to Bled Island. We can assure you that after visiting this prepossessing place, Lake Bled you are going to create the best memories ever.

2. Wondering several captivating places:

Here, you can get many visiting places. Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Maria, St. Martina Parish Church, Župnija Bled, Church of St. Andrew are names of some churches for which Bled Island is famous. Besides, there are many big hotels such as Grand Hotel Toplice, Hotel Park, and Rikli Balance Hotel. To enjoy the palatable cuisine, these hotels are remarkable. You can enjoy the enchanting view of a sunset sitting on the balconies of the hotels. If you love to take photos, then just take a selfie and grab the opportunity of getting fitted in a picture with the engrossing nature.

3. Shopping Hub

When you enter the Bled city, you can get to see multiple shops for various products. Most people prefer to visit mainly Ljubljana. If you are shopaholic, then you are just going to amaze after visiting this shopping hub.

The Lake Bled Island: 

 Lake Bled is a lake that surrounds Lake Bled Island. If you visit here, you can see many buildings. Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Maria is the main attraction here. It was made at the end of the seventh century.

The castle: Historical castles that are located on the hill are mesmerizing. It is one of the best attractive locations in Bled Island. These places can get you back to the golden past days.

The churches on the island:

The churches of Bled Island are very engaging and the attractions of the tourists. These places are as follows:-

● Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Maria

● St. Martina Parish Church

● Župnija Bled

● Church of St. Andrew

● Basilica of the Virgin Mary

● Grajska Kapela SV. Ingenuine in SV. Albumina

Importance of the church:

When you visit there, you can hear some bell rings from a distance. It is the sound of a wishing bell. People worship in Bled Island by ringing the bell. It is said that if someone rings the bell three times, one of the wishes of his or her will come true. One can visit here now as it has reopened on 18 May 2020. Ringing the wishing bell:

There is a heresy that after ringing the wishing bell three times, one of the three wishes can be fulfilled. When you will come here, you can get to see a small bell inside the baroque church. The church was built mainly to dedicate Mary.

Hiking:

Bled Island is a great place for hiking. Here are the names of the places where you can hike.

Aufstieg mit Treppe – Aussicht auf Bled Loop from Ljubljanska cesta

Aussicht auf Bled – Aufstieg mit Treppe Loop from Slamnik

Aufstieg mit Treppe – Aussicht auf Bled Loop from Ljubljanska cesta

Panorama view of the Bled lake – Railroad Bridge over Radovna Loop from Bled

Blejski Grad – Panorama view of the Bled lake Loop from Poljšica pri Gorjah

View on Bled’s church – Bleder See Loop from Bled Jezero

Vintgar – Klamm – Railroad Bridge over Radovna Loop from Bled Jezero

Selo – Milino Loop from Mlinska cesta

Bleder See – View on Bled’s church Loop from Bled Jezero

Aussicht auf Bled – View on Bled’s church Loop from Selo pri Bledu

Milno – Selo Loop from Savska cesta

Camping Ground – Aussicht auf Bled Loop from Kidričeva cesta

Vintgar Gorge:

Vintgar gorge is known as Bled Gorge also. It outstretched approx 1.6 km in the northwest part of Lake Bled Slovenia . It is situated in the municipalities of Gorje and Bled. The distance of the city and Bled Island is four km. You can see the Radovna river and Radovna valley here. The height of the canyon walls is fifty to a hundred meters.

Mary Church:

The Pilgrimage Church which is known as the Assumption of Maria or as the Church of Mary, is a main attraction here. The location of the church is in the middle of Bled Island. The natural beauty of this place is incredible. The main attraction in the Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Maria is the wishing bell. Francesco Patavino from Padova made the wishing bell in 1534. From the tourist guides, you can get to know that people can get their wishes to come true.

Bled bel:

It is in Morocco. You can see here Essakhra, Hit Essma, Sakhrat Ain Cherraj, and Koudiat Erregragui hill.

Thermal spring:

Lake Bled has a tectonic structure. Here, most of the time, the temperature remains 20° C. The tectonic form of Lake Bled is the reason for it. If you visit in recent times, you get to see the thermal springs in many hotel pools. Grand Hotel Toplice, Hotel Park, and Rikli Balance Hotel are these three hotels where you can see it. If you want extra heated water, then go to Hotel Park or Rikli Balance Hotel. Otherwise, the Grand Hotel Toplice is an excellent option for taking refreshment in thermal water at 22°C. In summer, the temperature of the Lake increases to 25°C. And when it is winter, the temperature drops down to 4°C. You can experience the lake surfaces in the freezing condition during the winter season.

Bled Cream Cake:

Lake Bled Island has the most engaging and striking church in the middle of the Lake. You can know why Lake Bled is the most stunning location in Slovenia when you have to come here.

We assure you that if you visit here, you will create vivid and never-to-be-forgotten memories. And the toothsome foods of this place are just as delicious as sticking to the mouth. Bled cream cake is one of such appetizing foods. By mixing cream, egg, cream and little amounts of sugar this mouth-watering dish gets prepared. If you visit Lake Bled, don’t miss to taste the delicious and sapid Bled cream cake.

from The Traveller https://ift.tt/3hHQIo8 via IFTTT

from WordPress https://ift.tt/3mxV84K

[retireearlyandtravel]

New Post has been published on https://www.retireearlyandtravel.com/bled-slovenia/

Unique and Exciting Things to See and Do in Bled Slovenia

Bled Slovenia, possibly one of the most photogenic places in the world, is a resort village in the foothills of the Julian Alps. It is Slovenia’s most popular resort town. Even with this popularity, we visited Bled during peak season and yet it was not swarming with tourists. Bled’s backdrop is the glacial, bluish-green Lake Bled. Once you visit Bled Slovenia, the beautiful image will stay in your memory forever. If you are visiting Slovenia, you really must visit Lake Bled.

We did our visit of Bled Slovenia on a private tour with Ride Around Tours. You know by now that Keith and I prefer private tours to the group ones because you get so much more out of them. The ability to change up the Itinerary a bit, like if you want to stay someplace a little longer is appreciated plus you get the full attention of the guide. These are so valuable for the best experience while exploring new places. After a full day of touring, we have three suggestions for a perfect visit to Bled, Slovenia.

Visit the Town of Bled and Bled Castle

First, visit Lake Bled. It is almost overwhelming to stand on the cliff in Bled and gaze upon the church on this tiny island. Perched atop this cliff that is 130 meters above Lake Bled is Bled Castle. Bled Castle is the oldest castle in Slovenia. The entrance of Bled Castle has a Gothic arch, and drawbridge. On the grounds of Bled Castle are many things to do. There is a small chapel, a restaurant that overlooks the lake, and a wine cellar with wine tasting. Also, there is a museum, a blacksmith shop, and a print shop. The castle, reached by way of a fairly steep 15-minute climb, is worth the muscle burn. For the history lovers, Bled Castle dates back to 1011. Bled castle is open year round for touring. There is an entry fee.

The town of Bled Slovenia is quite charming. There are interesting shops, cafes, bistros, and restaurants. Food wise there is something for everyone from traditional Slovenian food to vegan food. We recommend taking some time to enjoy a leisurely cup of coffee or a glass of wine and enjoy the sights of the town.

Visit Bled Island and the Pilgrimage Church

Lake Bled itself is a picturesque lake, surrounded by mountains and forests. The lake surrounds Bled Island. Atop of the island in the lake’s center is the Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Maria. Even from afar, you can see the churches steep Baroque staircase and bell tower. And in case you are wondering how many steep steps there are to climb, 99 stone steps lead to the church. Bled Island with this small church is a perfect postcard sight!

Take a ride to Bled Island on a Pletna

Bled Island in Bled Slovenia is the focal point of Lake Bled. The only way to get there is by boat. We got there by Pletna, a traditional boat made by locals. This boat developed in 1590 equipped with a colorful awning, which protects passengers from the sun, rain, and maybe even snow is unique to Lake Bled. To me, it is like a larger version of a gondola. The Pletna boat is a wooden flat-bottom boat with a pointed bow and stern. The boat moves through the water by standing oarsman rowing with two oars.

An oarsman, a highly respected occupation in Bled, operates the boat. The title of the Pletna oarsman is handed down generation to generation, so Pletna Oarsman have remained in the same families for centuries. Near the edge of the lake in the town, a 6 km path allows you to walk all the way around the lake. The views from this path are amazing. As you walk this path, you will see where the Pletna oarsmen wait with their boats for passengers. The boats leave when the boats are full, so you may have to wait a bit for more passengers to arrive. There is a small fee to take a Pletna to Bled Island.

Ring the Bells

As you approach Bled Island you will probably hear the church bells ringing, we did. That is because when you reach the Pilgrimage Church, you will have the opportunity to ring the church bell to have your prayers or wishes come true. Legend has it whoever rings the bell will have their prayer answered. According to the legend 500 years ago a widow had a bell made of the church in memory of her husband. While the bell was traveling across the lake, a storm came upon Lake Bled and sank the boat along with the bell and everyone on board. Because of this, the Pope consecrated a new bell that is the bell that hangs in the Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Maria. Supposedly when you ring the bell, you are honoring the Virgin Mary, and thus your prayers are answered.

Indulge in Bled Cream Cake; You Won’t be Disappointed

A visit to Lake Bled is not complete without trying a piece of Bled Cream Cake. Bled Cream Cake is the regional dessert and believe me it’s worth trying. There is only one Original Bled Cream Cake! The cake originates from the cake shop of the Hotel Park at Bled in 1953.

So what is this cake? The cake is a puff pastry and custard. The layers of the cake beginning at the bottom going to the top are as follows: puff pastry, custard, whipped cream, puff pastry, and icing sugar. The puff pastry is made by hand there as well. The Hotel Park does not use any preservatives, so the cake is made fresh several times a day. The taste of this wonderful combination of crunchy puff pastry and cream cake is something you must try for yourself. We had just eaten lunch, and we planned to get a couple of pieces to go and eat back at the hotel. We were a little rushed for time getting back from Bled Island, but to our surprise, our guide already purchased two pieces while we were on the island and had them waiting for us. You have to love private tour guides.

Beekeeping Tourism

A new travel trend in Slovenia is apiary tourism or bee tourism. An apiary is a location where beehives of honeybees reside. Apitourism gives a fresh approach to eco or sustainable travel. It invites you on a journey into the fascinating world of bees, offering you part of Slovenia’s cultural heritage and natural beauty. You probably have never heard of bee tourism, but it is popular in Slovenia. Slovenians take beekeeping seriously and see it as a traditional agricultural activity. Slovenians know the important role bees play in maintaining a healthy environment. Learning about the world of bees is fascinating. We learned that roughly one out of every 200 people in Slovenia now takes part in keeping bees.

The type of bees we are talking about is the Carniolan bee, which is native to Slovenia. This bee attracts attention for its non-aggressive nature and strong orientation skills. As I said earlier, there are many beekeepers in Slovenia. However, the number of bees far exceeds the number of humans. Slovenia is home to 200,000 bee colonies, amounting to approximately 10 billion fuzzy, buzzing creature in the summer.

Why Keep Bees?

Again, Slovenians realize the importance of bees, and quite possibly the survival of humans. Of the 100 crops that provide 90 percent of all food worldwide, 71 need bees for pollination. Everything from fruits and vegetables we humans eat, to grasses such as alfalfa and clover fed to cattle, are reliant on bees.

Keith and I Get Up Close with Our Fuzzy Friends

Keith and I had a great time on our apiary tour at the Kralov med hives in the hamlet of Selo, near Bled.  Blaz, the beekeeper, had us suit up in white beekeeping suits and bee veil, a cloth hat with wire netting to protect the face and head of beekeepers and visitors. The bees as Blaz explains are not aggressive and like a dog want to check you out, but as long as you do not injure them, they will not sting you. I am allergic to bees and wasps. Keith is not. So you will notice that Keith is only wearing the bee veil. Blaz enthusiastically educated us about the wonders of bees. Visitors can also safely view from behind the glass wall while Blaz works with his colonies.

Cautiously I make my way toward the yellow and blue painted house of hives. The buzzing increases with each step. Blaz is right; the bees come up and seem to smell me like a dog. They are checking me out to see if they need to fear me. After a quick buzz around me, they go about their business with little interest.

On an apiary tour, you will learn about the bacteria-fighting properties of propolis and the curative effects of royal jelly on high blood pressure. On some tours, you can try honey massages, beeswax thermotherapy which claims to boost circulation and treat skin disorders. This apiary tour we took, there were special beehive beds where people can reserve for a nap. They say the vibration sounds of the bees will induce a calming effect. It took a little bit of time for us to get calm while lying on the bed but the buzz was serene.

Sweet, Delicious Honey

Thanks to its rich diversity of flora and expert beekeeping, Slovenia produces a lot of great honey each year for tourists to try. They also produce sparkling wines, liqueurs, mead, vinegar, beer, and goat cheeses from honey. Most apiary tours have a gift shop that sells their honey and other products made from it. Keith and I love honey, so we picked up a few jars.

Discover Local Bee Art

While on an apiary tour, you cannot help but notice the lovely bee homes. This painting of beehive panels is a rich Slovenian folk art that dates to mid-eighteenth century. They believe the motifs help the bees navigate back to their hives. This form of folk art turned simple bee houses into true open-air art galleries. We learned that many of the very old beehive panels now have a predominant place in the museums throughout Slovenia.

Vintgar Gorge

Lake Bled in Bled Slovenia is one of those places that Instagramers and videographers love. But, Ride Around Tours said the lake isn’t the only beautiful spot in Bled. Only a 10-minute drive from Bled is Vintgar Gorge. The Vintgar Gorge is 1.6 km long and is a stunning natural site. The gorge carves its way through the vertical rocks of the Hom and Boršt hills and is enhanced by the Radovna River with its waterfalls, pools, and rapids. The educational trail leads you over wooden bridges and ends with a bridge overlooking the mighty 13 m high Šum waterfall.

Gorge History

They discovered the gorge at the end of the 19th century, and it is simply spectacular. The gorge created during the last ice age as glacial movements forced the crystal clear waters of the Radovna River to the northeast. The river slowly cut a path through the limestone rock. The gorge has a great boardwalk system. In Slovenia, they call the wooden walkways and bridges wooden galleries. These wooden walkways established just three years after the discovery of the gorge, meander through the gorge enabling tourists back then and now to visit this creation of nature.

Exploring the Gorge

The beautiful Radovna River is responsible for the gorge. It jumps across rapids and spins in pools. We visited the gorge in July, and although it was very hot elsewhere, it was quite cool in the gorge. If you get chilly easily, as I do, bring a sweater. If you want a break from the heat, this is the place to come. The walk through the gorge was very refreshing. It is also quite loud as the massive amount of water makes it way through the gorge. Near the end of the gorge, you will see a large stone arch railway bridge going over the river. Trains still run along this bridge.

Photo Worthy

If you are a photographer, Vintgar Gorge is wonderful to photograph. We visited in the middle of summer, but we came here later in the day and did not find it crowded. Early evening is also probably the best lighting of the day for photos. The walkways that criss-cross the river provide views. The observation bridges are a great place for photos. And sometimes there is rushing white water on one side but calm and emerald colored water on the other. The combination of the rushing water and then the beautiful emerald green on the other side makes for lovely photos. The walk through the gorge is short but breathtaking. This hike is definitely a must-do for anyone who visits the Bled area of Slovenia.

The name Vintgar’ supposedly comes from the German word ‘Weingarten’ (wine garden), because there used to be vineyards nearby. There is an entrance fee and a parking fee to walk through the gorge. They are open 8 am to 7 pm during the summer months. It does close during the winter so visit the official website for updated hours the remainder of the year.

The Magic of Bled Slovenia

We, as I am sure most travelers to this tiny country nestled between the Alps and the Adriatic, feel we discovered an unknown paradise. That is what Bled Slovenia does; it invokes magic with its breathtaking views.  But, if you only visit Lake Bled, you will miss the unique apiary tours and natures art at, Vintgar Gorge. To get the most of your visits, work with a private tour company like Ride Around Tours. It makes getting around from place to place easy, and you really learn a lot about the places you visit.

Be sure and check out our other post on beautiful Slovenia – The Best Things to See and Do in Ljubljana 

Check out our 5-minute video

[christian8culture]

Assumption of Mary Church on Bled Island, Slovenia.

[memolands]

St. Mary Church on the lake - The island’s church in Bled

St. Mary Church on the lake – The island’s church in Bled

The island has several buildings, the main one being the pilgrimage church dedicated to the Assumption of Mary, built in its current form near the end of the 17th century. The first brick built church on the island was consecrated in 1142 by the Aquileia patriarch Pellegrino.

The lake surrounds Bled Island / Image: selectslovenia.com

The church was rebuilt in Gothic style in the 15th century the…

[yousakana]

Lake Bled (Slovene: Blejsko jezero; German: Bleder See, Veldeser See) is a lake in the Julian Alps of the Upper Carniolan region of northwestern Slovenia, where it adjoins the town of Bled. The lake surrounds Bled Island (Blejski otok). The island has several buildings, the main one being the pilgrimage church dedicated to the Assumption of Mary (Cerkev Marijinega vnebovzetja), built in its current form near the end of the 17th century, and decorated with remains of Gothic frescos from around 1470 in the presbyterium and rich Baroque equipment. #ブレッド湖 #ブレッド城 #スロベニア #スロベニア旅行 #スロベニア🇸🇮 #リュブリャナ #lake #lakebled #bled #slovene #Blejsko #jezero #German #Bleder #See #Veldeser #Julian #Alps #Carniolan #Slovenia #Ljubljana #Medieval #BledCastle #BledIsland #Blejskiotok (Bled Slovenia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1JnzwRjWTb/?igshid=1lamfb994so1r

[cozycreatives]

The Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Mary, on Bled Island in Slovenia. Built in the 17th century. [2480 × 1653][OC] https://ift.tt/2Dce17V

[theworldfromthesky-blog]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The World From The Sky (@theworldfromthesky1)

Bled Island, also termed as the centrepiece of Lake Bled is the only natural Island in Slovenia. Just under its size, it houses several buildings, including a 17th-century church dedicated to the assumption of Mary. Photos taken with our drone. Follow: @theworldfromthesky1 YouTube: www.youtube.com/theworldfromthesky Website: www.theworldfromthesky.com . . . #bledisland #bledislandslovenia #bledislandchurch #slovenia #lakebled #lakebledslovenia #instabled #island #beautifulisland #dji #quadcopter #unitedbydrone #dronepilots #mavic #djimavic #instadroned ##aerialphotography #dronegear #droneoftheday #travel #djiglobal https://www.instagram.com/p/BwuogsHHMDi/?igshid=13q6vq7j3b53u