In the past, there was not water at the location of Lake Bled, but a meadow valley with a small hill and a rock, where mountain fairies danced at night. Shepherds grazed their sheep in the valley, which ate grass around the fairy rock. The fairies asked the shepherds to put a fence around their dance area, so that the grass would remain soft. The shepherds did not consider their request and one day, the youngest and most beautiful fairy broke her leg while dancing.
The angry fairies called upon the springs and brooks to storm into the valley and fill it with water. Only the hill with the rock remained as an island in the middle of the lake, where fairies could dance in light starry nights. Although fairies left these places a long time
ago, a beautiful fairy lake and an island below the mountains were left behind.
This is Lake Bled.
The current shape of the church has been preserved since the 17th century, when it was restored after the second earthquake. The main altar with a richly-decorated golden carving that dates back to 1747 at the main altar plastic represents the sitting Mother Divine, alongside the donor of the Bled estate Henry II and his wife Cunigunde. Side altars which were made at the end of the 17th century, are dedicated to St Sebastian, St Magdalene and St Ana.
The bell tower was built in the 15th century, but because of the heavy damage in both earthquakes and a lightning strike in 1688, the tower was renovated several times. The current bell tower is 54 metres high and has three bells made by Samasso and Franchi, bell makers from Ljubljana.
The church and other buildings, such as the wall and monumental staircase with 99 steps, have preserved their image since the 17th century. A special feature is the wishing bell in the upper roof above the church nave.
Vintgar Gorge, carved by Radovna River, is located near Gorje, approximately 4 kilometres north-west from Bled. The 1.6-kilometre long gorge is carved amidst the glorious vertical walls of Hom and Boršt hills, and it is highlighted by the Radovna River and its waterfalls, pools and rapids. A study trail runs across the gorge and the wooden bridges as well as Žumer galleries, which ends with the mighty 13 metres high Šum river waterfall, one of the three river waterfalls in Slovenia.
The investment is co-funded by the Republic of Slovenia and European Union under the European Regional Development Fund.
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