Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Lake Bled—Slovenia's leading mountain resort—comes complete with a sweeping alpine
panorama, a fairy-tale island, a cliff-hanging medieval castle, a lazy lakeside promenade,
andthe country'smost sought-after desserts. Andthe charms ofits glorious mountain vistas
and traditional folk life only crescendo as you explore the surrounding areas. Taken togeth-
er, there are few more enjoyable places to simply be on vacation.
Since the Habsburg days, Lake Bled (locals pronounce it “blayd”) has been
the
place
where Slovenes wow visiting diplomats. In the late 19th century, the gentle hillsides sur-
rounding the tight tangle of humble village houses sprouted a smattering of classy villas,
built by aristocrats who knew how to find a fine mountain escape. Tito also had one of
his vacation homes here (today's Hotel Vila Bled), and more recent visitors have included
Prince Charles, Madeleine Albright, and Laura Bush. But above all, Lake Bled feels like a
place that Slovenes enjoy alongside their visitors.
LakeBledhasplentyofwaystoidleawayanafternoon.Whilethelake'smaintown,also
called Bled, is more functional than quaint, it offers postcard views of the lake and handy
