Bled, Alpine resort city in northwestern Slovenia
Bled is a town in northwestern Slovenia that stretches along the northern shore of a lake, surrounded by forested hills and alpine peaks. The medieval castle perches on a 130-meter cliff above the water and forms the architectural center of the settlement.
King Henry II gave the settlement to the Bishop of Brixen in 1004, who ruled here until the 19th century. Tourism developed after the construction of the railway line from Vienna to Trieste in the late 19th century.
The name comes from the Slavic word for "rock," referring to the cliff where the castle stands. Traditional kremšnita pastry shops line the streets along the shore, where visitors can taste the local cream cake.
A walking path of roughly six kilometers circles the lakeshore and offers different viewpoints of the castle and island. The path is flat and easy for most visitors to walk, ideal for a quiet stroll in the morning or late afternoon.
The water remains exceptionally clear throughout the year, fed mainly by underground thermal springs. These springs keep the temperature at around 22 degrees Celsius (72 degrees Fahrenheit) even in midsummer.
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