Lake Bled

Lake Bled(Slovene:Blejsko jezero) is alakein theJulian Alpsof theUpper Carniolanregion of northwesternSlovenia, where it adjoins the town ofBled. The area is atouristdestination. The lake is 35 km (22 mi) fromLjubljana International Airportand 55 km (34 mi) from the capital city,Ljubljana. Lake Bled is 4.2 km (2.6 mi) from the Lesce–Bled train station.
The lake is of mixedglacialandtectonicorigin. It is 2,120 m (6,960 ft) long and 1,380 m (4,530 ft) wide, with a maximum depth of 29.5 m (97 ft), and it has a small island. The lake lies in a picturesque environment, surrounded by mountains and forests.
Lake Bled was an important cult centre during theBronze Age. Gold appliqués dating from the 13th-12th century BC were found in a deposit by the lake shore. The embossed decorations on the appliqués are thought to represent the solar and lunar years. Similar appliqués have been discovered in Switzerland, Bavaria and Hungary, mainly in Bronze Age fortified settlements and in the graves of wealthy women.
MedievalBled Castlestands above the lake on the north shore and has a museum.TheZaka Valleylies at the west end of the lake.
TheWorld Rowing Championshipswere held at Lake Bled in1966,1979,1989, and2011.
For centuries, Europeans have flocked to the shores of Lake Bled to enjoyrecreation, but also themedicinalbenefits.Emperor Henry II, ruler of theHoly Roman Empire, enjoyed the lake so much that he builtBled Castlein 1004 to confer it as an estate. Today the castle is a populartourist attraction.
The lake surrounds Bled Island (Blejski otok). The island has several buildings, the main one being the pilgrimage church dedicated to theAssumption of Mary(Cerkev Marijinega vnebovzetja), built in its current form near the end of the 17th century. It is decorated with remains ofGothicfrescosfrom around 1470 in thechancel, and with richBaroquefurnishing.
The church has a 52 m (171 ft) tower and there is a Baroque stairway dating from 1655 with 99 stone steps leading up to the building. The church is frequently visited and weddings are held there regularly. Traditionally it is considered good luck for the groom to carry his bride up the steps on the day of their wedding before ringing the bell and making a wish inside the church.
The traditional transportation to Bled Island is a wooden boat known as apletna.The wordpletnais a borrowing from Bavarian GermanPlätten'flat-bottomed boat'.Some sources claim thepletnawas used in Lake Bled as early as AD 1150, but most historians date the first boats to AD 1590.
Similar in shape to Italian gondolas, apletnaseats 20 passengers. Modern boats are still made by hand and are recognizable by their colorful awnings.Pletnaoarsman employ thestehruder(standing rowing) technique to propel and navigate boats across the lake using two oars. The role of the oarsman dates back to 1740, whenMaria Theresa of Austriagranted 22 local families exclusive rights to ferry religious pilgrims across Lake Bled to worship on Bled Island.The profession is still restricted. Many modern oarsmen descend directly from the original 22 families.
The area's culinary specialty, a cream pastry (kremna rezinaorkremšnita'Cremeschnitte'), was designated a protected dish of designated origin in 2016 by the Slovene government.Slovene cream pastries date back to theHabsburgera.The current "official" recipe was created in 1953 by Ištvan Lukačević, the former manager of the Hotel Park's patisserie.
There is an annual festival dedicated to the pastry. It is estimated that 12 million cream pastries have been prepared at the Hotel Park's patisserie over the last 60 years.