Bled, Slovenia

Bled Castle from the shores of the lake

Petra is taking us in Triglav NationalPark, Slovenia's only national park. Here we visited Bohinj lake, the largest permanent lake in Slovenia, measuring 2.7 x 0.7 miles. Mount Triglav which we could see from the lake was the first Slovenian land. A priest asked Empress Maria Theresa for the land if he managed to climb the mountain, and he succeeded. In the national park, no new structures or changes of exterior have been allowed since the park was formed in 1982. It was very picturesque with the spring flowers, high mountains and traditional houses. Most of the houses were originally shepard houses where the animals were on the ground level and the living quarters above. We crossed the Sava river whose source is only a 1/2 mile upstream with its clear greenish water. The school children are brought here to learn about nature. For example, we stopped at a couple stations: one talked about precipitation becoming rivers and the rivers being both above and below ground, others talked about using water wheels for power. The churches have a unique bell tower with colored corners.

 

Shepherd's House in Julian Alps

We then went into the village of Studor to see the hay racks, used for drying hay. We passed by a family cutting their hay. Petra gave us a taste of the local blue berry brandy and hazel nut chocolate. We then walked through the next village with its many ornate houses flowers in the balcony windows, here saw an example of the bee houses, decorated with panels with funny scenes, like a woman having her tongue sharpened by the devil.

 

Then we headed back to Bled to Bled Castle on hill, originally built in 1004 as a bishop's residence. They were having a medieval festival with actors and performers from Slovenia, Italy and Germany. What a delight! We stopped for a lunch along the shore of Bled lake with a view of the castle and had the local delicacy, a cream cake and coffee. To finish the day, I took an oar boat to the island in the center of the lake. Here is the Church of the Mother of God on the Lake with it's wishing well. We ran across a bridge and groom while we were there. The tradition is for the groom to carry the bride up the 92 steps to the church and then ring the wishing bell three times. I'm not sure whether this bride and groom did that, but they were posing for pictures.

 

 

Mary and John above Bled Lake