With its iconic fairy-tale church steeple perched atop the tiny rock island at the middle of Lake Bled, Bled is a sight that stays in your memory. The town has also long been a destination for those seeking relaxation, through its sunny alpine air and thermal springs, which are especially welcoming after a day of mountain trekking, golf or touring on horseback.
| Government | |
|---|---|
| • Mayor | Janez Fajfar (Independent) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 72 km (28 sq mi) |
| Population (July 1, 2018) | |
| • Total | 7,835 |
| • Density | 110/km (280/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02 (CEST) |
Bled is a town on Lake Bled in the Upper Carniolan region of northwestern Slovenia. It is the administrative seat of the Municipality of Bled. It is most notable as a popular tourist destination in the Upper Carniola region and in Slovenia as whole, attracting visitors from abroad too.
Bled is located on the southern foot of the Karawanks mountain range near the border with Austria, about 50 km (31 mi) northwest of the state capital Ljubljana.
The lake is 2.12 kilometres (1.32 mi) long and 0.5 to 1 kilometre (0.31 to 0.62 mi) wide. In summer, the surface water reaches 25 °C (77 °F) and retains a temperature up to 18 °C (64 °F) until autumn. As such, it is suitable for swimming. In colder winters it freezes and is used for ice skating.
There is a thermal spring (23 °C or 73 °F) near the lake, next to the Bled Fault. Its water is used in indoor pools in two hotels.
Tourism
Bled is known for the glacial Lake Bled, which makes it a major tourist attraction. Perched on a rock overlooking the lake is the iconic Bled Castle. The town is also known in Slovenia for its vanilla and cream pastry (Slovene: kremšnita, kremna rezina).
Naturopath Arnold Rikli (1823–1906) from Switzerland contributed significantly to the development of Bled as a health resort in the second half of the 19th century. Due to its mild climate, Bled has been visited by aristocratic guests from all across the world. Today it is an important convention centre and tourist resort, offering a wide range of sports activities (golf, fishing, and horseback riding). It is a starting point for mountain treks and hikes, especially within nearby Triglav National Park.
A small island in the middle of the lake is home to the Assumption of Mary Pilgrimage Church; visitors frequently ring its bell, due to an old legend claiming it provides good luck.
Human traces from prehistory have been found on the island. Before the church was built, there was a temple consecrated to Živa, the Slavic goddess of love and fertility. One can get to the island on a traditional flat-bottomed wooden boat (Slovene: pletna), part of a fixed fleet of 23 boats to protect the river’s cleanliness, run by a family-owned business since the 18th century. The island on Lake Bled has 99 steps. A local tradition at weddings is for the husband to carry his new bride up these steps, during which the bride must remain silent.
URADNE URE
OBČINSKA UPRAVA
Ponedeljek: 8.00 – 12.00
Sreda: 8.00 – 12.00 in 14:00 – 17.00
Petek: 8.00 – 12.00
SPREJEMNA PISARNA
Ponedeljek: 8.00 – 15.00
Torek: 9.00 – 12.00
Sreda: 8.00 – 12.00 in 13.00 – 17.00
Četrtek: 9.00 – 12.00
Petek: 8.00 – 13.00
KRAJEVNI URAD
Sreda: 8.00 – 12.00 in 14.00 – 17.00
Petek: 8.00 – 12.00