Top Information on Bled Castle at Lake Bled

In the following paragraphs we will present you some astonishing middle age sightseeings Bled Castle can offer you. The castle offers a great view of Lake Bled and the wider area of Upper Carniola. I will give you some info on location, history and things you just must see…

Location

Bled Castle is located on a 130 m high rock that is straight above the Bled Lake. When coming from Ljubljana, go pass the two gas stations, than turn right at the main crossing with semaphore at Bled Town. Just follow the main road for about 1km and than you will see on your right a football field. The main road goes right, but you just go straight ahead for about 0,5 km and voila. That's it!

It all began in 1004 ad, when the German Emperor Henrik II gave the Bled estate to Bishop Albuin of Brixen as a gift. This was the firs time in history Bled Lake was mentioned. At the beginning there was probably no castle, just a Roman watch tower protected by some walls.In the 16th century the round towers were built and also the most interesting part of the Bled-castle; the Gothic style chapel. The upper residential buildings, which have been converted into a museum, carry the seal of the 18th century.The castle had 3 major rebuilds; after a fire in 1622, than after an earthquake in 1690 and for the last time after an afire again, after the World War II.

Attractions

The whole castle is used as museum and there are some fine things to look after. Near the chapel is an exhibition area presenting the ancient history of Bled from the first excavations. The Bled-castle is presented in individual stages of its historical development with furniture and characteristic of those times. Although none of the furniture is original to the castle; it helps give you an idea of how the leisured class lived in the Middle Ages.

You can also visit printing works, castle cellar, herbal gallery, restaurant, souvenir shop and see multivision. In the castle you can additionally see a large collection of armor and weapons (swords, halberds and firearms from the 16th to 18th centuries).Outside there's a small shrine designed by Jože Plečnik, the most famous Slovenian architect.

Happenings

Between the summer, the castle is hosting, as in ages before, live middle age plays, dances, archery tournaments and sword fighting.

Views

The things mentioned above are not the only ones attracting visitors. From Bled Castle you can have a magnificent view of the Julian Alps, Bled Hotels, wider area of Gorenjska ( Carniola),...