LAKE BLED

                A Picturesque Alpine Village 

Lake Bled is surrounded by the Julian Alps (after Julius Caesar). The Alps start in France, run across Central Europe ending in Slovenia. In the center of the lake is an island with an old church on the top of a hill.

            Alpine villages and soaring peaks dominate the resort area. Dense forest and small ski resorts mingle with the many hiking paths.  The natural beauty and healing hot springs have attracted tourists for centuries. A peaceful alpine village, built around a quaint baroque steeple, is around every ridge
Arriving at Lake Bled we took a pletna ride to the island. A pletna is likened to a Venetian gondola. It has a bench on each side of the boat so people face each other rather than sitting thwart to thwart. The boat is propelled by a boatman standing on the stern using double oars. The boatman has a specific rhythm to his rowing. It was a lovely slow ride. The lake was mirror calm. The boats are passed down to family members. A stranger  cannot arrive and set up a business.

            Most of us tackled the many stone steps up to the church at the top. The steps are not very steep but not real even either. There is also a path in the back that leads to the top.

            Sweeping alpine panoramas and the fairy tale island is very romantic. To prove the groom is worthy of his bride, it is tradition for the groom to carry his bride up the 92 steps from the pier to the Church of Assumption, sitting high on the hill.

      The 17^th century church, with its Venetian and Baroque flair, is the 5^th to occupy the spot on an islet in the middle of lake. The first was an 8^th century pagan temple dedicated to the Goddess of Love.   Legend says that if one rings the 1534 wishing bell, in the separate tower, the wish he makes will come true. Pulling the bell is not as easy as one would think!

            The church’s Madonna has the face of Maria Theresa.  Gothic frescoes decorate each side of the altar. In 1970 medieval graves were discovered around the church.  

            The return boat trip was longer as we went to the city rather than the dock. The lake covers 1.7 square miles and is 100 feet deep in some areas. It is 3.5 miles around the 1.5 mi long. lake. We had a chance to view the 800-year-old castle clinging to the rocky cliff. One peak of the Julian Alps reaches 9313 feet high.

            There is a lovely lakeside promenade. The area is known for its fantastic desserts to which I can attest!