Lake Bled

Slovenia's fairy tale postcard

Hop off the train from Nova Gorica in Bled-Jerzero to leave behind mementoes of past wars in favor of the fairy tale scenery of Lake Bled, Slovenia’s premier resort area.

The little blue lake (its name, in Slovenian, means simply "lake" as it is the only one in this boutique country) is surrounded by the craggy Julian Alp peaks of Triglav National Park—popular for rafting and mountain biking—and encircled by a jogging path.

Bled’s claims to fame are the 1,000-year-old castle sitting atop a 330-foot cliff at the water’s edge, and the lake’s tiny wooded island spiked with a baroque church steeple. This is the Church of the Assumption, built on the site of an ancient temple dedicated to Zhiva, the Slavic goddess of love and fertility. It’s little wonder the church remains an immensely poplar spot for Slovenian weddings.

Where to stay on Lake Bled

There’s a modest resort town at one end of the lake, where accommodations range from the Penzion Bledec hostel, with $22-$25 dorm beds (www.mlino.si), to the century-old Penzion Mayer, a family-run hotel with spotless $85 balconied rooms and an excellent restaurant (www.mayer-sp.si).