Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj, Slovenia

THE JULIAN'S LOG

Nineteenth Post

"SUMMER/AUTUMN HOLIDAYS”

There are still flowers in the meadows, but we have had the first snow up in the mountains and the mornings have that Autumnal chill now. There is still plenty of sun and blue skies and the nearby lakes of Bled and Bohinj offer great days out, at all times of year…

FOCUS ON LAKES BLED AND BOHINJ

Lake Bled is only a 20-30 minute car journey from us, or a superb 22km cycle ride through the pretty Radovna Valley. Bled has to be one of the most photographed and well-known destinations in Slovenia. It boasts Slovenia’s only island and is very picturesque. The island can be reached by boat, or, for the more adventurous, by swimming! There are always plenty of the traditional “Pletna” boats on the lake or you can row yourself.
The island has a beautiful approach of romantic steps, sweeping you up to the idyllic church, where you can toll the haunting bell.


From the island you can look back to the craggy rock face on which the castle proudly stands.

The castle is worth a visit…for the awesome view and the pretty ramparts, museum and wine cellar. There is also a Herbal Gallery, Printing works and several medieval events all worth visiting.

Bled lies nestled between the Karawanke and Julian Alps, so it’s setting is stunning and if you go up the small chairlift, the view of the Lake and it’s setting is awesome. In the summer you can make the journey back down on the summer toboggan or, in the winter, ski down. There are plenty of lake -side cafes and bars and places to sit, swim, and admire the unique scenery. The lakeside path takes you 6km round the lake, where you will pass joggers, roller bladders and horse- drawn carts…there is something for every one here.









A little further on the valley from Lake Bled, you come to Lake Bohinj. A circular tour of which is 11.5km. Bohinj sits in a glacial basin amidst the Julian Alps. It feels more serene than Bled, and with cloud or clear skies it has a magical and mysterious atmosphere with stunning reflections of the mountains in the lake.



At one end is the cable car to Vogel, providing magnificent views and experience either for summer walking or winter skiing.

The skies around Bohinj are often filled with paragliders in the summer and tandem jumps are available for a reasonable price.










As at Bled, there are many opportunities to travel by boat on Lake Bohinj, rowing or canoeing by yourself, or on the organised touring boat which crosses the lake regularly in season. The lake has many opportunities to land with the boat or simply to walk to and set up a picnic place for the day, on gravelly beaches with plenty of safe swimming for everyone. The water is so clear in the shallows that you can watch the fish swimming around you.


As you walk round Bohinj, you pass traditional, alpine houses and as you sunbathe on the beaches you can hear the sound of the tractor cutting the hay in the pastures. These are constant reminders of the unspoilt nature of Bohinj and the surrounding area.

The bars and cafes are subtle at Bohinj so you can sit and enjoy the unspoilt view across the lake.
At the end of the lake you can climb up to the Savica waterfall…. Which is spectacular most of the year round. Bohinj can also be a start/finish point for climbing Triglav and walking in the high mountains. There is also a climbing wall and high rope activity centre on one side of the lake, both of which are built in keeping with the surroundings and blend into the natural surroundings. As with Bled, there is something for everyone at this magnificent lake.


Hope you’ve enjoyed this edition. Next Blog will focus on AUTUMN SCENES.