Bled Castle
Blejski grad
Perched on a cliff about 130 m above the north shore of the lake, this is Slovenia's oldest castle. Its terrace overlooks the island and the mountains, making it the best viewpoint over Lake Bled.
Bled Castle is first recorded in 1011, when Holy Roman Emperor Henry II granted the Bled lands to the Bishop of Brixen. It is the oldest castle in Slovenia with a documented history. The castle sits on top of a steep limestone cliff on the north shore of the lake. It has an upper and lower courtyard, protected by walls, towers and a moat. Most of the surviving buildings date from the medieval to Baroque periods.
Inside, a museum presents the history of the Lake Bled region from prehistoric times to the present. Other attractions include a 16th-century Gothic chapel, a reconstructed Gutenberg-style printing workshop (where you can print a commemorative certificate on site), a blacksmith's forge, a wine cellar (where you can bottle your own wine) and an herb garden.
The most appealing spot is the terrace in the upper courtyard, which overlooks all of Lake Bled, the island church and the distant Karavanke and Julian Alps. The castle restaurant has superb views and requires a reservation. Entry costs about EUR 17–20 (check the official website for current prices).
You can walk up from the lakeside along the path in about 15–20 minutes, or take a bus to the castle car park. It's best to combine a visit to the island and the castle on the same day: visit the island in the morning and the castle in the afternoon.
Opening hours
Approx. 08:00–20:00 (until 21:00 in summer, 18:00 in winter; check the official website)
Nearby sights
- Straža Hill Bled
- Lake Bled & Bled Island
- Ojstrica & Mala Osojnica Viewpoints
- Vintgar Gorge
- Pokljuka Gorge
- Radovljica
- Kropa
- Slovenian Alpine Museum