Bled - Visiting the charming Bled island & Alpine region
After breakfast and check-out we will drive to the Alpine region. The town of Bled in the Julian Alps could be a setting of a classic fairy tale: immense natural beauty with mountains and forest surrounding an emerald glacial lake, in the middle of the lake is a church steeple with a wishing bell, a clifftop castle with picturesque views, and a signature sweet treat. Bled, together with its surroundings, ranks among the most beautiful alpine resorts.
In Bled you will take a ride on a traditional wooden boat called “pletna” to the charming Bled island to visit St Maria church and ring the wishing bell. Bled island is also home to a so-called “potičnica”. “Potica” – a traditional pastry is a must for every holiday in Slovenia, be it Christmas, Easter, or a family celebration. Traditionally it should be baked inside a bread oven in a POTIČNICA – a round, clay baking dish, usually handmade and modeled on the crown of Jesus Christ. And this is also where the name of this coffee shop and workshop derives from.
In Potičnica you will have a chance to learn about this traditional cake preparation, followed by its sampling of a few different tastes of potica.
Bled Castle; perched on the cliff above the lake, is to written sources the oldest castle in Slovenia. Castle buildings are arranged around lower and upper courtyards with a small printing shop, castle wine cellar, honey shop, chapel, and museum, offering visitors a unique experience. In the afternoon we will transfer to Lake Bohinj located in the serene Bohinj valley (30 min drive). This largest Slovene lake lies in the protected area of Triglav National Park (TNP), the only Slovenian national park and one of the oldest in Europe, named after Mt Triglav, which is at 2864m. (9400 ft.) the highest mountain of Slovenia. We will visit its picturesque villages and one of the dairy farms to learn about the particularities of Bohinj cheeses. And what is seen without trying, so you will sample some right from the producer.
In the late afternoon, we will transfer to a small town near Bled, Radovljica. The compact city center is a veritable open-air museum of beautifully restored buildings and narrow sloping streets, a perfect setting for a taste and touch of tradition. First, you will visit a unique gingerbread live museum where you will learn the handicraft of typical gift honey bread (called Lectar) making. You can give it a try at decorating a Lectar heart to see how delicate this trade is and how it differs from the one you learned of a day before.
We suggest dinner in the in-house restaurant, where you can savor unique alpine Slovene dishes and sounds of Slovenian folk music, or at a Michelin starred restaurant just 10 minutes away (mandatory reservation).
Overnight in Bled.
What's included?
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Breakfast
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Accommodation
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Tour
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Transfer