P205 - Slovenia - Bled Island

Bled Castle, Bled Island, Slovenia

Bled is a municipality in northwestern Slovenia in the region of Upper Carniola. The area within the Julian Alps is a popular tourist destination.

Bled is famous for the glacial Lake Bled, which makes it a major tourist attraction. Perched on a rock overlooking the lake is the iconic Bled Castle.

Naturopath Arnold Rikli (1823-1906) from Switzerland contributed significantly to the development of Bled as a health resort in the 2nd 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 sport activities (golf, fishing, horseback-riding) and is a starting point for mountain treks and hikes especially within the 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 for 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 wooden row barge called Pletna.

Bled Castle is a castle built on top of a 130 meter cliff overlooking lake Bled, located in Bled, Slovenia. It is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Slovenia, second only to Postojna Cave.

The castle was first mentioned in 1004, which makes it one of the oldest in Slovenia. The oldest part of the castle is the romanesque tower. In the Middle Ages more towers were built and the fortifications were improved. Other buildings were constructed in the Baroque period. The buildings are arranged around two courtyards, which are connected with a staircase. There is a chapel on the upper courtyard, which was built in the 16th century, and renovated around 1700, when it was also painted with illusionist frescoes. The castle also has a drawbridge over a moat.

布萊德市(Bled)位於斯洛文尼亞西北部的阿爾卑斯山南麓，是著名的旅遊勝地，風景優美，交通便利，距首都約60公里，人口約5400人。小城因秀美的布萊德而聞名遐邇。西元1004年，德國亨利二世在此修建了城堡、教堂，其風格獨特的建築與碧綠無暇的湖面構成了人與自然的完美結合，使得布萊德湖心小島與古樸的城堡融為一體，“三頭山”上的積雪順流而下直注湖中，所以布萊德湖又有“冰湖”之美譽。

References sources : wikipedia