The most famous of all the Slovenian top tourism places is Bled. The Bled Lake is known all over the world. If you ask someone about Slovenia, the person usually doesn’t know what you are talking about. But if you mention this crystal lake: "Now this is a different story!"
The Lake came into existence when the Bohinj Glacier moved away. It is 2120 m long, up to 1380 m wide and it is of the tectonic origin. After the last Ice Age, the Bohinj Glacier deepened its natural tectonic hollow and gave it its present form. When the ice melted, the basin was filled with water. The lake has no considerable affluent except some streams. The thermal springs in the northeast part are captured in three swimming pools: at the Toplice Grand Hotel, Park Hotel and Golf Hotel. The beauty of the lake is stressed by the island on the west side.
The Bled Lake is known for its island with a church in the middle of the lake. You can go there with a special boat that is called “pletna”. It is an old tradition and even now in the 21st century the boatmen are rowing in a standing position.
There is also a castle, located on the top of a cliff, with a view over the whole area and also the Julian Alps. The Bled castle is now arranged as an exhibition area. You can visit here the printing works, castle cellar, herbal gallery, restaurant, souvenir shop and see multi vision.
If you don’t want to walk around the Lake, you can take a carriage with the coachmen called “fijaker”. You can visit many other destinations with the carriage, but this one around the lake is practically the best and the cheapest one. If you want a little snack you can eat the traditional Cream Cake. You can buy them where ever you want, but those from Bled are simply the best.
The thermal springs which are led into the swimming pools at the Grand Hotel Toplice (23°C) and the Park and Golf Hotels (28°C - the water is additionally heated) enable pleasant swimming and successful treatment of stress related illnesses, exhaustion, neuro-vegetative disorders and age-related fatigue.
With immense natural beauty, Bled, together with its surroundings, ranks among the most beautiful alpine resorts, renowned for its mild, healing climate and thermal lake water. The beauty of the mountains reflected on the lake, the sun, the serenity and the fresh air arouse pleasant feelings in visitors throughout the year, guaranteeing an ideal base or a relaxing break or an active holiday. Bled attracts businessmen, artists, athletes, explorers, sport enthusiasts, the old and the young, from all over the world, enchanting them to return again and again.
Bled Lake
Altitude 475 m
Length 2120 m
Width 1380 m
Area 144 ha
Maximum depth 30.6 m
Maximum annual water temperature is 26°C.
“Lake Bled looks too good to be true: a glassy expanse, broken only by a tiny island with a fairytale church spire, and fringed with thick green forests and hard, grey mountain peaks. At the lake's edge is the finishing touch: a medieval castle perched on a steep rocky pedestal.”
Tom Gatti – Timesonline.co.uk