Bled In Your Pocket N°9 - Summer/Autumn 2014

Maps Events Restaurants Cafés Nightlife Sightseeing Shopping Hotels

Bled Summer - Autumn 2014

Bled Island

There are many reasons to visit Slovenia’s only island

FREE COPY

Issue N°9

inyourpocket.com

Bled Film Festival

The first Bled Film Festival is set to be a summer hit

Massage / Sauna / Body Care Treatments / Cosmetic Treatments

Massages are carried out at • Public Lido • Beaches Velika Zaka • SPA & WELLNESS Essense • THAI SPA Center at Lovec Hotel

Reservation is necessary for all services Cankarjeva 20/c, Bled / +386 4 57 67 450 / +386 40 99 66 66 info@essense.si / www.essense.si

Contents

All you need to know about where to sleep, eat, drink, visit and enjoy

E S S E N TI A L C I TY G U I D E S

Arrival & Transport 7 Getting to and around Bled

Culture & Events

Concerts, conferences, marathons and more

10

Restaurants 15 World-class dining with unbeatable views

Cafés 20 Coffee and cakes around the lake

Sightseeing 22 The island, the castle and much more

Sports & Activities 27

Online

Adrenaline parks to relaxing wellness

Hotels 30 Business suites to hostel bunks

Bohinj 35 Even more breathtaking than Bled

Some people are so determined to visit Bled Castle, not even a sheer rock cliff face can deter them!

Radovljica 42 This hilltop town is honestly sweet

Brdo Pri Kranju 46 The domain of delights

Maps & Index

48 49

Bled map Bohinj map

In Your Pocket Mobile

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Enjoy the views at Živa Wellness, the largest wellness centre in the region

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Summer - Autumn 2014

5

Foreword

Arriving & Getting Around

If there was a tick sheet of things a tourist or traveller would want from a place based purely on aesthetics, it would probably run something as such; big blue lake, idyllic island, iconic church, domineering castle atop a hill. Lake Bled has all of this, with the added bonus of the church sitting proudly in the middle of the island. It is one of the most popular destinations in Slovenia, and for good reason.

SYMBOL key P Air conditioning A Credit cards accepted

As picturesque as a destination can be, Bled is one of the most striking Alpine resorts going and offers something for all manner of visitors, be they old, young, those in search of activity or in search of relaxation. It truly is the dictionary definition of serenity. Slovenia’s only island is the focal point, a small haven with the quaintest of churches dominating the scene. Learn about the history of time telling in the separate Bell Tower before tasting some traditional Potica, a pastry nut roll with no end of fillings. Some 120m above the lake we find Bled Castle, the oldest in the country keeping an everpresent protective watch over the lake.

Publisher E S S E N TI A L Bled In Your Pocket C I T Y G U I D E S Drenikova 33, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia Tel. +386 30 316 602 bled@inyourpocket.com, www.inyourpocket.com

B Outside seating

H Conference facilities

T Child-friendly

U Facilities for the disabled

F Fitness centre

L Guarded parking

Director Niko Slavnic M.Sc., niko.slavnic@inyourpocket.com

R LAN connection 6 Pet-friendly

ISSN 1855-3486 ©IQBATOR d.o.o.

Printed Evrografis d.o.o.

Published twice per year

K Restaurant

J Old town location

D Sauna

C Swimming pool

I Fireplace

W Wifi

Editorial Editor Yuri Barron Writers John Bills, Will Dunn, James Cosier, Yuri Barron Design Design Vaida Gudynaitė Consulting Craig Turp Photography Bled Tourist Board, Shutterstock Cover photo © Tomo Jeseničnik / Blejkski Otok Sales & Circulation Sales & Operations Management Irena Jamnikar, Stanka Parkelj Rozina, Karmen Hribar

Of course it is the lake that steals the show, with its glistening blue-green water that is clearer than it has any right to be. A 2km long path winds around it, providing one of the most tranquil walks we’ve ever walked. There aren’t many more relaxing experiences than a slow stroll in the sun as the Alpine mountains reflect off the picture-perfect water. Don’t be put off by the ever-growing numbers of tourists visiting; Lake Bled deserves every single visitor it receives. And as always we welcome any and all feedback, be it on Facebook, Twitter or even oldfashioned email.

Copyright notice Text and photos copyright IQBATOR d.o.o. Maps copyright cartographer. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, except brief extracts for the purpose of review, without written permission from the publisher and copyright owner. The brand name In Your Pocket is used under license from UAB In Your Pocket (Bernardinų 9-4, Vilnius, Lithuania, tel. (+370) 5 212 29 76).

Maps Monolit d.o.o.

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6 Bled In Your Pocket

We have come a long way in the 22 years since we published the first In Your Pocket guide - to Vilnius in Lithuania - so much so that we are today the largest publisher of locally-produced city guides in the world. The recent publication of a guide to the islands of the Dutch Caribbean - our first in the Western Hemisphere - has taken the number of guides published each year

by In Your Pocket to well over five million, spread across more than 100 cities on three continents. And there is more to come: make sure you keep up with all that’s new at In Your Pocket by liking us on Facebook (facebook.com/inyourpocket) or following us on Twitter (twitter. com/inyourpocket). bled.inyourpocket.com

Arriving in BLED Tucked up close to the Austrian border, as little as an hour away from the Slovene capital Ljubljana, getting to Bled by train, bus or car is a relatively painless experience.

Arriving by Plane Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport is located approximately half way between Ljubljana and Bled, and you can expect to pay around €45 for a taxi into town. Buses are considerably cheaper (€5.40, with up to 19 connections on weekdays, but virtually none on weekends) although you have to transfer in Kranj. There are also up to six direct shuttles per day (€13). You can see the full schedules on the airport’s website at www.lju-airport.si.

Arriving by Bus Buses leave every hour on the hour from the main bus station in Ljubljana and take about 80 minutes to make the journey. Close to the town centre at the northeastern tip of the lake, the main bus station (glavno postajališče) has a kiosk outside selling chocolate, soft drinks and cigarettes. To get to the city centre, walk south along Cesta Svobode until you hit the water. Schedule and prices can be found on the official Ljubljana bus station website at www.ap-ljubljana.si.

Arriving by Train Bled has two train stations, but unfortunately neither is located in the centre of town. Over 20 trains a day from Ljubljana call at Lesce-Bled station which is on the main line, but is 4km away, meaning you will either have a lengthy hike or short bus ride into town. The other station is BledJezero a couple kilometres to the west, which sees up to five trains a day from the capital, however you have to transfer at Jesenice which can lead to a total journey time of almost 3 hours. Check out Slovenia Railways’ incredibly user-friendly website for a complete schedule and prices at www.slo-zeleznice.si.

pass Jesenice following signs for Ljubljana. Bled is well sign-posted. The journey time is around 40 minutes from Ljubljana, and it may get very crowded on Sundays in season at the end of highway. Once you’ve reached the town, there is ample parking available, but most of it must be paid between the hours of 07:00-20:00, with prices ranging from €0.50-2 per hour or €3-10 per day.

Inquiring about the various options at your hotel prior to arrival is usually a good idea. For those with electric cars, there is a free charging station on the lower level of the parking garage at Hotel Krim near Bled Sports Hall - the key can be collected at the hotel’s reception.

Taxis Bled Taxi Bled’s number one taxi service for airport transfers, excursions and longer journeys, the folks at Bled Taxi have more than 15 years experience working with foreign guests and drivers speak both English and German. Prices for the most popular destinations in Slovenia, as well as nearby airports, can be found on their website, while they’re happy to give quotes for return services on day trips elsewhere in the country and the region. A larger Volkswagen and Mercedes van is available for groups of up to eight passengers.

Qtel. +386 (0)41 710747, bled.taxi@gmail.com, www. bled-taxi.si.

Gorenjska Green Card Those who travel frequently are sure to be familiar with the standard tourist cards that seem to be found in most major cities these days, usually offering discounts for a variety attractions, restaurants, transport, shops and services. The regionwide Gorenjska Guest Green Card follows this same model, but with two notable exceptions: it’s valid for up to 30 days and is completely free of charge!

One card is also sufficient for the whole family, so you don’t have to worry about the kids losing theirs.

Cards can be ordered online in advance or picked up at any regional tourist information centre, and are also available directly from many accommodation providers in the region. A full list of all the card’s benefits and more info can be found on the official website at www.slovenian-alps.com.

Arriving by car From Ljubljana take the A2 highway northwest out of the city and follow the signs for Kranj or Jesenice. From Austria, facebook.com/bled.inyourpocket

Summer - Autumn 2014

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Language

History

Slovene is a Southern Slavic language with a 25-letter alphabet. It is closely related to Serbian and Croatian, and also shares many words with other Slavic languages. Although some words and letter combinations may appear unpronounceable at first glance, Slovene is actually a fairly phonetic language with very few irregularities - although the letters L and V can do some strange things depending on their position in a word.

Luckily, most Slovenes speak either English, Italian or German embarrassingly well, so chances are you won’t have to worry about any communication problems. However, as with most countries, attempting to use a little bit of the local language can go a long way towards winning over your hosts. Even the odd ‘hvala’ and ‘prosim’ won’t go unnoticed.

Post One foreign stamp, please - Eno znamko za tujino, prosim (Eh-no z-nahm-koh zah too-YEE-noh pro- SEEM) For postcard - Za razglednico (Zah raz-GLEHD-neet-so) For letter - Za pismo (Zah pees-moh)

Basics Do you speak English? - Govorite angleško (Goh-voh- REEteh Ahn-GLESH-ko) ?

I don’t understand - Ne razumem (Nuh ra-ZOO-mehm) Where is the toilet? WC? - Kje je stranišče (Key-yay strahnEESH-chay) ? WC (Vay-tsay)?

Good Morning - Dobro Jutro (DOH-broh YOO- troh) Good Day - Dober Dan (DOH-behr Dahn) Good Night - Lahko noč (Lah-koh noh-ch) Yes - Ja (Yah) No - Ne (Nay) Hello - Živjo (Jeeve-yoh) Thank you - Hvala (HVAL-a) Please - Prosim (PRO-seem) Excuse me/Sorry – Oprostite (Oh-PROS-tee-tay) Pardon me (asking for help) – Prosim (pro-SEEM) My name is....- Jaz sem (Yahz sem) ...

I am from... - Jaz sem iz (Yahz sem iz)...

Travelling Bus - avtobus (OW-toh-booze) Train - vlak (v-LOCK) I am looking for.... - Iščem (EESH-chem) ...

One ticket, please - Eno vstopnico, prosim (Eh-noh oostop-NEETZ-oh pro- SEEM)

Days Monday - ponedeljek (POH-nuh-dehl-yek) Tuesday - torek (TOR-ek) Wednesday - sreda (Sray-dah) Thursday - četrtek (chuh-TUR-tuck) Friday - petek (peh-tuck) Saturday - sobota (soh-BOH-tah) Sunday - nedelja (nuh-DEHL-yah) Questions Who? - Kdo?(K-doh) What? - Kaj?(Kai) Where? - Kje ? (Key-yay) When? - Kdaj (K-dai) How much does it cost? - Koliko stane (KOH-lee-koh STAH-neh)?

Places Croatia - Hrvaška (Hurr-VASH-ka) England - Anglija (Ahn-glee-yah) Germany - Nemčija (Nem-CHEE-yah) Hungary - Madžarska (Mad-jar-skah) Ireland - Irska (Ear-skah) Netherlands - Nizozemska (NEE-zo-zem-skah) Scotland - Škotska (Shkot-skah) Venice - Benetke (Behn-et-keh) Vienna - Dunaj (Doo-nigh) 8 Bled In Your Pocket

Signs Open - odprto (Ohd-PURT-oh) Closed - zaprto (Zah- PURT-oh) Entrance - vhod (oo-hod) Exit - izhod (eez-hod) Push – rini (ree-nee) Pull – vleci (oo-LETS-ee)

Times Now - zdaj (z-dai) Later - kasneje (kaz-NAY-yeh) Today - danes (dahn-es) Tomorrow - jutri (yoo-tree) Yesterday - včeraj (oo-cheh-ray) In the morning - zjutraj (z-YOO-try) In the afternoon - popoldne (poh-POLD-neh) In the evening - zvečer (z-veh-chehr) At night - ponoči (poh-NOH-chee) Restaurant Talk Menu, please - Meni, prosim (MEH-ni pro-SEEM) Bill, please - Račun, prosim (Rah-CHOON pro- SEEM) Do you have vegetarian food? - Imate vegetarijansko hrano (EE-mah-tay veh-geh-tay-ree-ahn-sko h-rah-noh)?

Small Talk What’s your name? - Kako ti je ime? (K’ko TEE yeh E-meh) How old are you? - Koliko si star/stara (asking a male/female)? (Ko LEE ko see star/stara) What is your job? - Kaj delaš po poklicu? (Kai delash poh pokleetsu) What do you study? - Kaj študiraš? (Kai shtud EAR ash) Do you play sport? - A športaš? (A shport ash) Are you a musician? - A si glasbenik/glasbenica (male/female)? (A SEE glaz benick/glaz beneetsa) What is your star sign? - Kaj si po horoskopu? (Kai SEE poh horoh skop-oo)

Pronunciation Pronunciation c - as in pizza e - as in egg g - as in go j - like y in yogurt

č - like c in cello š - like sh in ship ž - like s in pleasure

bled.inyourpocket.com

Jozip Broz Tito was a frequent visitor to Bled during his more than three decades as leader of Yugoslavia, even keeping a summer residence here

The fertile land and the protective shelter of the castle hill and the island, have always invited settlement around the Bled area. The first, and rare traces of humans in Bled, date back to the Stone Age. In the Iron Age, when the mining of iron had begun in the Alpine regions, settlement increased.

Beneath the layer of an already discovered Slavic necropolis at Pristava pod Gradom, archeologists discovered 80 gravesites from the late Iron Age (800 to 600 BC) - Celtic and Roman finds however, are more modest. Bled was later well populated by the Slavs, who arrived in two waves. The Slavic settlements were most probably located at exactly the same spots where the lakeside villages of Mlino, Želeče, Zagorice, Grad and Rečica formed in the late Middle Ages.

A number of gravesites are well known: Žale - the site of a modern day cemetery (archeologically excavated in 1894), the park at the current Vila Bled (1929), the necropolis in Želeče (1937), the large necropolis at Pristava pod Gradom (1948 to 1951), the gravesites next to the current parking area below the entrance to the castle (1960, 1968) and the necropolis on Bled island (1962 to 1966).

Slavic settlement The first wave of settlement of the Bled area occurred in the 7th century, the next reached the Bled basin during the 9th and 10th centuries. Discoveries from the first settlements illustrate the culture of the Old Slavic state of King Samo (632 - 658) and the late antiquity traditions in these lands. The discoveries from the second wave of settlement, such as ornaments found in gravesites include enamelled and engraved earrings in the shape of half-moons, circlets, round brooches and iron knives. These artefacts indicate the historical development of Bled up to the 10th century and some of these can be seen on exhibition at the Castle museum.

The bishops of Brixen After the fall of the Old Slavic state, Bled with its surrounding area fell under Frankisch (Charlemagne 782) and later under German rule. In 1004 the emperor Henrik II divided the lands between the two Sava Rivers, and in 1011 awardfacebook.com/bled.inyourpocket

ed Bled Castle, to Bishop Albuin of Brixen - a photocopy of the original title deed can be found in the collection at the castle. This action was a major turning point in the history of Bled. The keepers of the castle were bonded knights, who upheld feudal authority in the name of the bishops.

As a result, great changes occurred in the forming of estates and the settlement of the region. In the middle of the 14th century the Bishops of Brixen gave up direct administration of their properties in Bled and leased them to the chief administrators at the time, the von Kreigh family.

Because of encroachment on their rights and brutal treatment and oppression, in 1515 the peasants joined the fight for the “old justice” in a pan-Slovene revolt.

In 1558 a new holder, the Protestant protector Herbert VII of Auersperg, took over the castle. Until the middle of the 18th century the lessors were exclusively aristocratic; later these also included townsmen, but they rarely lived in the castle. In 1803, after 800 years of Brixen rule, Bled passed into state ownership by a decree of the Court Commission in Vienna.

From 1809 to 1813, it was included in Napoleon’s Empire as part of the Illyrian provinces, and then it came once again into the hands of the Austrian Emperor who returned Bled to the bishops of Brixen for the last time in 1838. With the abolishment of the feudal system ten years later, the estate lost its character of a feudal economic and social unit. In the second half of the 19th century, Bled changed considerably. The characteristic villages of Gorenjska, which had been autonomous units ever since the Middle Ages, were united. Income decreased, and in 1858 Brixen sold the Bled estate to Viktor Ruard, the owner of the Jesenice Ironworks.

He kept the castle, the lake and the usable land around it, and sold the rest to the Kranj Industrial Company. In 1882 Ruard sold the estate to a Viennese wholesale merchant named Adolf Muhr, and in 1919 Bled hotelier Ivan Kenda bought the castle with the lake - for the first time the property passed into Slovenian hands. In 1937 it was taken over by the Associated Commercial Bank and finally bought by the Drava Province. During World War II, Bled was used to house the German military and civil headquarters, and in 1960 it acquired the status of a town.

Tourism in Bled and Arnold Rikli The first numerous visitors to Bled were pilgrims, coming to see the church on the island of course. Following Valvasor’s reporting of the thermal springs in ‘The Glory of the Duchy of Carniola’ in 1689, numbers of people seeking health benefits here rose, and thus there were several attempts to destroy the springs and/or lake in order to quash this attention, unwanted by certain figures. Alas, they survived, and ‘organised’ tourism started around the middle of the 1800s.

Swiss hydropath Arnold Rikli spent 52 years in Bled, founding the Institute of ‘natural healing’, and perfecting a rehabilitation program of bathing, taking steam baths, walking, and eating vegetarian; which proved a hit. Indeed, Bled was later recognised as one of the most important tourist sites in the Austrian empire, receiving a gold medal in Vienna in 1903; having got its own train station at Lesce in 1870.

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Culture & Events

Culture & Events on the effects of light, air and water, and went on to found the Natural Health Institute in 1855. To commemorate the good doctor’s contributions both to health and tourism in Bled, a series of sporting events is held the first weekend of every July, which includes tennis and miniature golf tournaments, and a recreational walk.

bled film festival

The surface of Lake Bled is illuminated with candles during the Bled Days and Bled Night celebrations each July

Annual Events June Medieval Days at Bled Castle The origins of Bled’s thousand year history are of course connected with its clifftop castle, the oldest in Slovenia by written records. The heart of the Brixen estate in Carniola, the castle buildings and courtyards were undoubtedly the scene of much tumultuous happenings, lest we say barbarisms. Performances at the festival in memory of this period include medieval music, a market, tasting of delicacies, and of course battle.Qwww. blejski-grad.si.

July Bled Days and Bled Night Held on a late July weekend each year, this festival is one of the summer’s main festivals in Bled, and consists of a diverse schedule of events ranging from a daily arts and crafts fair and children’s puppet shows to street theatre performances and concerts. One event not to be missed is the traditional lighting of candles on the lake followed by a fireworks display from the castle. See the official website for the complete programme.QVarious Venues, www. bled.si.

10 Bled In Your Pocket

17.06 Tuesday - 21.06 Saturday Bled Film Festival This coming June will see the unveiling of the first annual Bled Film Festival, and we can’t think of a more poetic location for such a happening. The event has a twofold aim, as many film festivals tend to. The obvious is to celebrate the art of cinema, but arguably more important is the thematic focus of the films.

Hoping to raise awareness of environmental issues regarding water, the festival hopes to make a change through the medium of film. As we all know, films are wonderful catalysts for self-evaluation and retrospection. A number of events will take place around the festival, such as talks from respected people in the film industry and a number of free film screenings in an open cinema by the lake. Supported by filmmakers from all over Europe and the United States, this promises to be a most inspiring occasion.QCesta Svobode 7, info@bledff.com, www.bledff.com.

August 19.07 Saturday - 09.08 Saturday Okarina Ethno Music Festival First held in 1991, the original line up for the then one-day Okarina Etno Festival contained just two artists, a group made up of Slovenes and Croats and another from Czech Republic. By 1998 this had exploded into a festival featuring 26 artists from 14 different countries spanning 10 days.

Back down to a more streamlined line up this year, the Okarina Etno Festival is celebrating its 24th year of work.

Taking place in Bled Castle and Spa Park, it is a colourful celebration of all things folk. Line up and more information can be found online.Qtel. +386 (0)4 572 97 70, info@ zkbled.si, www.festival-okarina.si.

Bled Mini Marathon and Recreational Run (Blejski Maraton) Another of Bled’s many annual sport events, the Bled Marathon includes both a 21km half-marathon and a 6km recreational run around the lake.Qwww.bled.si.

September Bled Strategic Forum Held each September, the Bled Strategic Forum is intended to promote a high-level strategic dialogue between leaders from the private and public sectors on the key issues facing Europe and the 21st-century world. The aim of the Forum is to generate new strategies capable of allowing

International Bled Music Festival Lasting a couple of weeks, the festival is centred around a series of classical music concerts that take place almost nightly in different venues - including Bled’s Festival Hall, St Martin’s Church, Vila Bled and Radovljica’s magnificent Baroque Hall. In addition to the performances, there is an international viola and violin competition, which draws some of the best young competitors from around the world, a series of nine week-long master classes led by renowned composers and musicians from eight different countries, and an art exhibition featuring well-known Slovene artists. First held in 1996, the festival has since grown to be one of the biggest and most important of its type in central Europe.QVarious Venues, tel. +386 (0)4 531 76 10/+386 (0)41 887 545, festival.bled@siol.net, www.festivalbled.com.

Night Run Around Lake Bled (Nočna 10km) As the name suggests, this unique take on the traditional 10km race takes place after the sun goes down. Participants compete in one of five age groups, and the course consists of more than two laps around lake. The main event begins at 22:00, while a recreational 1.2km run leaves at 21:00, and a 400m and 800m children’s run at 20:00.Qwww.nocna10ka.net.

Rikli’s Sport Days Swiss doctor Arnold Rikli was one of the first people to recognise the value and health benefits of Bled’s climate and location. He developed his own healing methods based bled.inyourpocket.com

facebook.com/bled.inyourpocket

Summer - Autumn 2014

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The picturesque Slovene landscape in early summer evenings.

The majestic architecture of castles and churches. The glow of evening fires. Tasting wonderful wines. These exciting

and emotional moments are accompanied with music

played on authentic instruments by the finest musicians from all over the world.

www.festival-lent.si

www.seviqc-brezice.si

2014 22. june - 6. december arly

e

music festival v

20. VI. – 5. VII. 2014 Maribor • Slovenia

Festibus transportation from Ljubljana to all the concert venues.

More information: Ars RamovĹĄ zavod za umetnost, marketing, promocijo in investiranje T: +386 (0)1 242 08 12, M: +386 (0)51 30 30 40, E: info@k-ramovs.si

Culture & Events Europe to better use its strategic space and leverage, and also to attract political commitments to these strategies. In addition, the forum offers a platform for cooperation between the private and public sectors aimed at developing common integrated approaches to resolving outstanding challenges and tackling new ones.Qtel. +386 (0)1 478 21 08, fax +386 (0)1 478 23 55, bledstrategicforum.mzz@ gov.si, www.bledstrategicforum.org.

Bled Triathlon If you feel like going for a little 1500m swim, followed by a 40km bike ride, and topped off with a short 10km run, then the Bled Triathlon was made just for you! If you’re not up for the rigours of the course outlined above, there are many other races taking place at the same time with lengths suitable for amateurs. It’s possible to register via the internet.Qtel. +386 (0)1 832 72 20, info@trisportklub.si, www.trisport-klub.si.

Restaurants seviqc brežice festival 22.06 Sunday - 06.12 The Seviqc Brežice Festival is synonymous with early music in Slovenia and one of its most important cultural events. Most of the distinguished invited artists perform a carefully selected programme, which shows the colourfulness of musical styles from different European countries, from the middle ages right up to the beginning of the 20th century. This diverse programme is the very aim of the Seviqc Brežice Festival, whose name comes from the abbreviation of the Latin expression Semper Viva Quam Creata, which means ‘Always live as created’.

One of the most important early music festivals in Europe, the performances will take your mind and soul back through time and space in some of the most beautiful and atmospheric concert halls in the country. To make getting to the concerts easier, the festival also arranges direct transportation - a so-called ‘Festibus’ - to each venue from Ljubljana. More information can be found in English on the official website.

QVarious venues across Slovenia, tel. +386 (0)1 242 08 12/+386 (0)51 30 30 40, info@k-ramovs.si, www. seviqc-brezice.si.

November

See top classical music performances during the International Bled Festival

Lent festival 20.06 Friday - 05.07 Saturday The Lent Festival - held every year for two weeks between the end of June and early July - is in many ways Maribor’s pride and joy. It attracts tens of thousands of people from near and far and gives them a belting time, with its unbelievable programme of music and art, both classical and contemporary. Everyone goes: families with small children, young couples and artistic loners staring at the water with yet another beer-in-hand. But the main achievement of the festival is that most of the activity takes place on the slim strip of terra firma that is the Lent embankment, also the oldest part of the city. How it can cram the throngs gathered without shoving half of them kicking and screaming into the nearby River Drava takes some doing.QVarious Venues, tel. +386 (0)2 229 40 11/+386 (0)31 479 000, vstopnice@nd-mb.si, www.festival-lent.si.

14 Bled In Your Pocket

In addition to its amazing sights, Bled also has some world-class restaurants to choose from

Oberkrainer Festival This celebration of Oberkrainer music, a traditional Slovene folk style that is akin to the polka and waltz, will feature performances by various internationally renowned ensembles, and is guaranteed to liven up the town for at least one late autumn weekend. In addition to music, plenty of traditional food and drinks are also on hand, and the event always attracts thousands of visitors from Austria and Germany - where Oberkrainer is perhaps even more popular than in Slovenia - as well as from Italy, Hungary and elsewhere.

QSports Hall Bled, Ljubljanska 5, tel. +386 (0)4 57 80 500, lili.osterbenk@dzt.bled.si, www.bled.si.

December Merry December in Bled Christmas time in Bled is as an important time as anywhere else, with events held throughout the month of December.

The highlights are undoubtedly the Sinking of the Bell on Christmas night (which is based on a centuries-old legend involving murder, nuns, the Pope and the actual sinking of a bell) and New Year’s Eve celebrations along the waterfront with an almost legendary fireworks display. Every weekend in December there is also a full programme of events for children and arts fair held at Hotel Park, while on Christmas eve and Christmas day you can catch a glimpse of Santa Claus himself riding around the town on a horse-drawn sleigh. A full programme of the month’s events can be found on the city’s official website.Qwww.bled.si. bled.inyourpocket.com

Long famous for its legendary cream cakes, in recent years Bled’s culinary scene has really begun to flourish, with some of the country’s top chefs plying their trade at various venues in and near the town. For those who are simply looking to for a decent meal rather than the full on fourstar gourmet experience, Bled also offers plenty of choices, from hearty regional cuisine served in family-run ‘gostilna’ to Chinese, Mexican and various takeaway options.

Plate for the kids. A daily tourist menu of three courses for only €12 is also available, featuring excellent soups, a main dish and a dessert. The pancakes in particular are excellent. It also has plenty of outdoor seating looking over the lake.QD-2, Cesta Svobode 8a, tel. +386 (0)45 79 84 53, info@restavracijalabod.si, www.restavracijalabod. si. Open 12:00 - 23:00. Closed Sun. (€6.60-20). PT� JAULEBKSW

Chinese

Okarina Slovenes are still slowly but surely discovering Indian food, and when the penny drops the Okarina Restaurant in Bled will be at forefront. The classic Indian dishes are represented, from samosas to pakori to a selection of curries. With a vast menu covering everything from sophisticated fare through to Balkan grilled meat and the aforementioned Indian selection, the hardest part really comes down to choosing what to eat. The great selection available to vegetarians makes Okarina a most excellent group option in Bled.QD-3, Ljubljanska 8, tel. +386 (0)45 74 14 58, leo@okarina.com, www.okarina.com. Open 12:00 - 15:00, 18:00-23:00, Sat, Sun 12:00 - 24:00. (€8-30).

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Peking Tatty but fun, with all the classic Chinese restaurant trimmings such as red lanterns and pictures of pagodas, work up an appetite by strolling up the hill and dropping in here. The service is average, the staff are rather giggly, and the food, running the complete classic Chinese spectrum from prawn crackers and spring rolls to sweet and sour chicken to beef chop suey, is both excellent value and authentic.QE-3, Ulica Narodnih Herojev 3, tel. +386 (0)45 74 17 16. Open 12:00 - 23:00. PTAUGBXS

International Labod At the top of the hill leading from the bus station down to the lake itself, Labod offers plenty of space and plenty of choice. Mains start at €10 and feature the usual specialties: meat, fish and pasta dishes. It also has a Pokemon facebook.com/bled.inyourpocket

Oštarija Peglez’n A simple rustic design punctuated with rag dolls, plates, old coffee pots and a broken hat stand in which to feast on a large and highly recommended selection of fish, meat and pasta dishes. The Trout a la Trieste seems to be popular Summer - Autumn 2014

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Restaurants

Where to eat here, as indeed does the octopus salad and ice-cream with hot fruit, the latter two not coming together on the same plate. Once again, everything is complimented with an admirable wine list including reds and whites from both Slovenia and abroad.QD-3, Cesta Svobode 19a, tel. +386 (0)45 74 42 18, ostarija-peglezn.mestna-izlozba.com.

Open 11:00 - 23:00. (€6-27). TA6IGBXS

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A celebration of gourmet pleasure. ~ Delicious food and an excellent wine list ~ Outdoor terrace with a great view of Lake Bled ~ Air-conditioned indoor seating area ~ ~ Only 100 meters away from the lake ~

Skriti Vrt The perfect place for folks a genuine love of food, Vila Istra’s on-site restaurant is mouth-watering in every sense of the term. Whilst the balconies have all of the romance and grace you would expect from a balcony meal on Lake Bled, it is the indoor dining area that really wins out here.

It’s positively dripping in style. A large table dominates the room, and loath as we are to lavish praise on a table it is a gorgeous piece of work. A menu that changes on a daily basis allows the passionate and enthusiastic chef to really explore his skills, using fresh produce hand picked from the wild.QCesta Svobode 35, tel. +386 59 0808 08, book@skritivrt.si, vila-istra.info.

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Topolino Self-described as without a doubt the best restaurant in the entire Gorenjska region of Slovenia, while we know more than a few of their competitors would take umbrage with this pronouncement, there may be some truth to it. Some of the slow food creations that come out of the kitchen of skilled chef Zoran Stančič are truly delectable, and this is definitely the kind of place where the menu doesn’t even need to be opened, or at least this is usually our chosen approach.QE-2, Ljubljanska 26, tel. +386 (0)4 574 17 81, anita.bobic@telemach.net, www.topolinoslo.com. Open 12:00 - 23:00. Closed Tue. JAL

Pizza Arbor Pizzeria Shopping centres aren’t usually the places to head for a good meal, but the so-called ‘Gaddaffi Centre’ in Bled isn’t any ordinary shopping centre. Hidden within is Arbor Pizzeria, which has a plethora of outdoor seating, as well as an elegant interior that is the more atmospheric option. A circular marble bar is the dominant feature, with quietly dig-

The restaurant is open from Monday to Saturday from 11:00 to 22:00, on Sundays and public holidays from 11:00 to 20:20.

Restaurant Labod Cesta svobode 8a, 4260 Bled (by hotel Jelovica) T: +386 (0)4 579 84 53, E: info@restavracijalabod.si www.restavracijalabod.si

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Restaurant ARBOR Bled T + 386 (0)4 574 30 33

bled.inyourpocket.com

nified seating throughout. The food is excellent too, with grilled dishes, fish, enormous salad platters and of course pizzas all available.QLjubljanska 4, tel. +386 (0)4 574 30 33, www.arborbled.si. Open 10:00 - 22:00.

Pizzeria Briksen Owned by Slovene ice hockey player Tomaž Razingar, it seems only natural that this incredibly popular pizzeria is located in Bled’s sports hall, whose main function is as an arena for hockey and other ice-based sports. In addition to the oversized pizzas, the menu features various burgers, fries, kebaps, sandwiches, sausages and even a full English breakfast, which are balanced out with some slightly healthier looking salads. One new addition is the so-called Soči pizza - introduced to the menu to celebrate the Slovene national team’s qualification for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.QLjubljanska 5, tel. +386 (0)40 652 995, www.pizzerijabriksen.com. Open 08:00 - 24:00.PYALVBW Rikli Pizzeria In the bustling heart of Bled, on the waterfront beneath Hotel Park, you can find the friendly Rikli Pizzeria. In fine weather, you may prefer to enjoy your meal with a view from the outdoor terrace. The food is prepared with the freshest ingredients, and the menu boasts 15 types of pizza, including the house specialty Rikli and a superb four-cheese. The pizzeria also offers a wide selection of salads, vegetable pies, pasta with various sauces and some delectable desserts.QD-2/3, Svofacebook.com/bled.inyourpocket

bode 15, tel. +386 (0)4 579 18 39, rikli@hotelibled. com, www.sava-hotels-resorts.com. Open 10:00 22:00. PJAULGBKW

Slovenian Bled Castle Restaurant An understandably popular venue for wedding receptions, business meetings and important protocol events for the government, don’t worry if you haven’t been invited to any of these, as the restaurant is also open to individuals - you even get free admission to the castle if you make a reservation in advance. The modern Slovene cuisine include specialities from all of the country’s surprisingly diverse regions, and the menu is regularly adapted to reflect the season.QGrajska Cesta, tel. +386 (0)4 579 44 24, restaurant@vgs-bled.si, www.hotelastoria-bled. com. Open 11:00 - 22:00. PALB Mayer This popular family-run restaurant and guesthouse serves up some of the best traditional Slovenian food in Bled, including pork and sausage specialities, fresh trout from local rivers and homemade skutini štruklji for dessert. Of course there’s also a full menu of other Slovenian favourites and international dishes. There’s also superb selection of domestic wines, and the possibility of a short tour of the wine cellar.QD-3, Želeška 7, tel. +386 (0)4 576 5740, penzion@mayer-sp.si, www.mayer-sp.si. Open 18:00 24:00. Closed Mon. PTJAIG Summer - Autumn 2014

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Where to eat Lovec Grill This newly opened grill restaurant at the centrally located Hotel Lovec does a lot of things well. Professional service from a knowledgable staff, and the best place to sit is outside on the large terrace where chefs will prepare your meal right in front of you while you enjoy the view towards the lake. The menu is top quality from the starters to the desserts and every other course in between, and many of the ingredients are bought from small-scale local farmers - or fishermen in the case of the freshly caught trout from the nearby Sava Bohinjska river. Speaking of which, the grilled fish platter comes highly recommended.QLjubljanska 6, tel. +386 (0)4 620 41 26, info@ lovechotel.com, www.lovechotel.com. Open 10:00 23:00. PJALB Panorama Along the shores of Lake Bled, you can enjoy a fine selection of Slovene cuisine and steaks, as well as a killer wine and dessert list, complete with wonderful service of course. Offering one of the most pristine views of any restaurant in Bled, Panorama definitely lives up to its name.

QD-3, Cesta Svobode 12, tel. +386 (0)4 579 12 75, fax +386 (0)4 574 18 41, panorama@hotelibled.com, www. sava-hotels-resorts.com. Open 10:00 - 22:00, Fri, Sat 10:00 - 23:00. JAEBK Penzion Mlino Known as a favourite amongst gourmands and connoisseurs of fine food, this place rates five stars for its menu

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Where to eat

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of typical Slovene cuisine. From season to season the four walls of the guesthouse buzz with a warm, lively atmosphere and even just outside the front door, the fun doesn’t stop as guests enjoy wonderful views of the castle, lake activities, walks and cycling around the area.

QC-4, Svobode 45, tel. +386 (0)4 574 14 04, fax +386 (0)4 574 15 06, mlino@mlino.si, www.mlino.si. Open 08:00 - 23:00. (high season); 08.00 - 22.00 (low season) an. T6UILGBKW Gostilna Murka A typical Slovenian gostilna, or rather Gorenjska gostilna, the sausage and sauerkraut being fine choices here, as well as other Slovene and also pasta dishes, all served in massive portions. Murka is mainly popular with locals, so it’s the perfect place to make that extra effort with a few phrases in the Slovene language. The covered outdoor seating of the terrace is a nice place to dine, out of the hot sun or indeed a summer shower. Extra offerings at Murka include schnapps and wine tastings, and medieval meals.

QRiklijeva 9, tel. +386 (0)45 74 33 40/+386 (0)41 24 59 18, info@gostilna-murka.com, www.gostilna-murka. com. Open 10:00-22:00, Sat-Sun and holidays 12:0023:00. JALEB Gostilna Pri Planincu Housed inside a charming traditional house dating from 1903, one of Bled’s more well-known restaurants, Gostilna Pri Planincu’s Alpine ambience is no coincidence when you start unravelling the history of the area. With a small

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bar at the front and a dining area through a small passageway out the back, the traditional menu includes many 124 x 41 2014 localOglas favourites including Karst ham and assorted home15.sausages. maj 2014Q 20:45:30 made D-2, Grajska 8, tel. +386 (0)45 74 16 13, pri.planincu@siol.net, www.pri-planincu.com. Open 09:00 - 24:00. (€7-20). TA6GBXS Restaurant 1906 Located in the stately four-star Hotel Triglav Bled (which, you guess it, was founded in 1906), a meal here is guaranteed to be a fine dining experience of the highest order. The kitchen of head chef Andrej Rovan creates some simply wonderful dishes, all of which are modern interpretations of traditional Slovene recipes, methods and ingredients. In 2011, the restaurant, and its culinary school, were awarded the prestigious Jakob Prize, given each year at Slovenia’s largest tourism fair to only one winner.QKolodvorska 33, tel. +386 (0)4 575 26 10/+386 (0)31 300 097, info@hoteltriglavbled.si, www. hoteltriglavbled.si. PAW

Tourist Farms Povšin You are truly a guest in a Slovenian tourist farmhouse (turistična kmetija), thus this is neither a restaurant nor a bone fide hotel. What you will find is delicious homemade food and drink, from meats to cheeses, to eggs and vegetables, dumplings and cakes - and of course brandy. The house is traditional, with its black kitchen (črna kuhinja) intact, and after meeting the family (including the pets) there are many sights nearby to explore on foot or bike (lake Bled, the castle, gorge etc).

QSelo 22, tel./fax +386 (0)4 576 76 30, povsin@siol. net, www.povsin-bled.com.

Union An almost hacienda feel inside what’s essentially a traditional, family-run Slovenian restaurant. The personal touch of the proprietors is served up along with a range of dishes cooked over an open fire. Summertime sees the opening of a large terrace in the shade of a few chestnut trees, plus there’s a bar too, and a small selection of suites and apartments upstairs if you’ve eaten and drunk too much to move.

QE-2, Ljubljanska 9, tel. +386 (0)45 78 01 50, info@ union-bled.com, www.union-bled.com. Open 17:30 23:30. TA6ILEGBXSW Zaka Situated at a quiet corner of the lake, a 15-minute walk from the main tourist centre, Zaka is actually a retreat, but remains convenient, being close to the Bled-Jezero train station (up to five trains a day from Ljubljana). In addition to accommodation, a conference hall, tennis courts and the rowing centre; good grilled dishes including fresh fish can also be enjoyed in the restaurant or on its terrace overlooking the lake. High quality food and an abundance of it.QŽupančičeva 9, tel. +386 (0)4 574 17 09, info@bled-zaka.com, www.bled-zaka.com.

ZHBKW 18 Bled In Your Pocket

bled.inyourpocket.com

facebook.com/bled.inyourpocket

Skriti vrt (Mystic Garden), Cesta Svobode 35, 4260 Bled www.skritivrt.si

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Cafés

Cafés Nightlife Apropos Cocktail Bar The main attraction of this café-cum-cocktail bar is the the sprawling terrace on the main courtyard of Bled’s shopping centre. The lake itself is visible from where you sit sipping coffee by day and there’s regular live music on summer evenings, for those long island iced teas, etc. Their selection includes all the classics and none of the cheesy ‘sex-pun’ named ones, which gives us the impression of a serious cocktail establishment, although the interior decor is a bit uninspiring. On the plus side they also have internet access and free moblile charging.QD-3, Ljubljanska 4, tel. +386 (0)45 74 40 44, aproposjana@yahoo.co.uk.

Open 08:00 - 24:00, Fri 07:00 - 03:00, Sat 08:00 - 03:00, Sun 08:00 - 02:00. JABW

Jasmin Jolly good kremšnita and a pot of tea for shirt buttons inside a modern albeit basic café next to the tourist office.

The tea in question comes in lots of different varieties and is served in dainty little pots. An ideal place to bring your aged aunt.QD-3, Svobode 10, tel. +386 (0)45 74 38 27, jasmin.caji@telemach.net, www.jasmin-caji.si. Open 09:00 - 22:00. PAUGBX Latino Located on the upper terrace of Bled shopping centre, this is a small but lively place to hang out, with good hot chocolate and a great atmosphere. Actually equally serving as a bar and cafe, the afternoon to evening not leaving one wanting for a beer or something stronger, should one desire.QLjubljanska 4, tel. +386 (0)45 74 13 98.

Park Restaurant & Café Sitting opposite the Park hotel and restaurant, on the banks of the lake is the result of the legend that is Bled cream cake, or ‘Blejska Kremna Rezina’ in Slovene (see boxed text). The large open plan kitchen has to work damn hard to keep up with demand on busy Sunday afternoons and they do it with grace and ease.

An absolute must!QCesta Svobode 15, tel. +386 (0)45 79 18 18, www.sava-hotels-resorts.com. Open 09:00 - 21:00.

PJAULB Planinček Café People squeeze into this quaint little cafe because it’s a 20 Bled In Your Pocket

social meeting point for those heading off to work in the mornings; awaiting their turn for a caffeine fix and a takeaway pastry from the bakery of the same name next door.

QE-2, Prešernova 11, tel. +386 (0)31 76 36 83, www. pekarna-planika.com. Open 07:00 - 24:00.

Slaščičarna Šmon A heralded local pastry shop since 1880, Slaščičarna Šmon is still the place to go for sweets when in Bled. It offers a wide range of freshly made pastries and desserts, as well as some delicious homemade ice cream.

As with many places in Bled, the Kremna Rezina (Slovene Cream Cake) is the main event. When this is added to a gorgeous coffee and a seat outside in the sun, yet another slice of perfection is created in this most idyllic of places.QD-2, Grajska 3, tel. +386 (0)4 574 16 16, info@smon.si, www.smon.si. Open 07:30 - 21:00.

TJAULGBK Tropical Kava Bar One of two compact (tiny) coffee bars tucked into a cosy corner in the outdoor shopping centre. Tropical Kava Bar’s theme is, uncannily, just that. Miniature palms spring up from every orifice, giving the impression of being far away from the alps. This is agreeable for a while, then it’s best just to face the truth and go back to reality, the paradise that is Lake Bled. A good place for a more serene coffee in the busy summer season.QLjubljanska 4. Open 09:00 22:00, Fri, Sat 09:00 - 02:00. JNB bled.inyourpocket.com

Art Café A popular social hangout for the younger clientele, especially students from the nearby IEDC Bled School of Management who like to stop by and mingle amongst themselves. When there’s an important sports event on TV, the place fills up fast and so do the glasses! The wide, open terrace that overlooks the lake also brings a steady flow of tourists, while the gold-framed art work and old spiral staircase adds a touch of charm to its homey interior. Definitely, a satisfying choice for day and nighttime entertainment.QD-2, Cesta Svobode 7a, tel. +386 (0)45 76 71 79, loreks@telemach.net. Open 07:00 - 02:00, Fri 07:00 - 03:00, Sat 08:00 - 03:00, Sun 08:00 - 02:00.

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bled cream cake Bled Cream Cake (Kremšnita) Cream cakes, known in Bled for decades, are in fact the town’s symbol. Although you can buy them elsewhere, those from Bled are simply the best. Ištvan Lukačevič, the former manager of Hotel Park patisserie, tested recipes for many years before he finally succeeded. His cream cakes, which are prepared at this patisserie and sold in the café opposite the hotel, are famous. What is the secret?

In fact, there is no secret - only experience matters, and the cooks from Bled have plenty of that. Since 1953 they have been serving up ‘Kremšnita’ here, October 2013 seeing the 12 millionth slice unveiled in a whirl of glory at the annual carnival in its honour.

Let us tempt you with the recipe: a golden crispy crust made from butter dough (mixed with butter, not margarine), a delicious vanilla cream of exactly the right consistency (with exactly the right amount of flour - if there is too much the cakes are no good, if too little, they collapse after cutting), topped with whipped cream and a crispy layer of butter dough and finally, last but not least, a good dusting of icing sugar. You see? Your mouth is watering already. facebook.com/bled.inyourpocket

Old Cup Bar If you just want to grab a beer with friends and avoid the tourist scene, this is an ideal meeting spot. A large chestnut tree droops over the terrace and shades against the scorching sun in the summer time and the wind in the winter. There’s always a vibrant atmosphere if you choose to sit indoors, where you will find groups of friends propping up the bar. They serve a selection of pub food: sandwiches, pizza and kebabs.QD-2, Cesta Svobode 8a. Open 06:30 - 24:00. PTJAR6LGB Union Bar 99 Union Bar 99 is a popular hangout on warm summer nights. Frequently enough, a grill is prepared up on the terrace amongst crowds of locals, hotel guests and tourists. All major sporting events are shown on the big screen and there’s free WiFi. The décor of the interior is charming and the service top-notch. For the morning after they even serve breakfast.QE-2, Ljubljanska 11, tel. +386 (0)45 78 01 19/+386 (0)41 341 494, info@union-bled. com, www.union-bled.com. Open 08:00 - 24:00, Fri, Sat 08:00 - 01:00, Sun 10:00 - 24:00. JRLGB

Many more places to eat and drink in Bled at bled.inyourpocket.com Summer - Autumn 2014

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Sightseeing

Sightseeing Churches St Martin’s Church A white neo-Gothic beauty erected in 1905, St Martin’s was designed by same architect who was responsible for Vienna’s town hall, and it shows in the sheer verticality of the building. The church is surrounded by the walls which had to protect the earlier church from Ottoman incursions, and the interior has frescoes from the late 1930s.

QRiklijeva 26, www.zupnija-bled.si.

Hiking Bled is an ideal starting point for walking, the most aesthetically pleasing places being Pokljuka and Vintgar gorge. The peaks rising above the former, including Triglav, are also within striking distance for serious hikers. Marked trails in the vicinity are numerous, and will ensure the exploratory satisfaction of most people, in all seasons.

For further details about tours and marked trails, including maps, visit the Tourist Information Centre.

Museums & Galleries

Take a walk on Bled’s wild side, photo by Dohtar / Shutterstock

Much more than just the iconic castle and island, Bled and the surrounding mountains offer a multitude to see and do.

Visit the helpful tourist office for more detailed information on what is available during your stay.

Essential Bled Bled Castle The oldest castle in Slovenia as well as the one with arguably the most dramatic location, Bled Castle is yet another iconic feature of this glorious destination. Perched protectively some 120m above the lake, the first written mention of it dates all the way back to 1011, when the German King Henry II ceded it to the Bishops of Brixen. It has seen many changes of ownership since, and has thus become something of a huge mish-mash of architectural styles. The walls are Romanesque, where as the majority of the other buildings making up the castle hail from the Renaissance.

The grounds are made up of two courtyards, connected by a staircase.

Aside from the predictably gob smacking views on offer, the castle also has a number of attractions to entice longer visitors, among them a small museum showing the history of Bled from the beginning of time to the present day, a wine cellar, an old printing press, a castle forge, souvenir shop and a restaurant. The castle is reached via a fairly steep 15-minute climb. Forming the most dramatic of 22 Bled In Your Pocket

backdrops to the life affirming romance of the lake, Bled Castle is a must-visit.QC-2, tel. +386 (0)4 572 97 82, fax +386 (0)4 572 97 72, blejski.grad@zkbled.si, www. blejski-grad.si. Open 08:00-21:00 Jun-Aug, 08:00-20:00 Apr-Jun & Sep-Nov, 08:00-18:00 Nov-Mar. Admission €9/7/4.50 for adults/students/children, with discounts for groups of 10 or more.

Iglica Waterfall One of the jewels of Bled’s surrounding nature, Iglica waterfall is a 25m plume of water that plunges down a limestone rock face, many of which nearby serve as climbing walls. Here on the Suha stream, the fall is best admired in spring, a wooden stairway allowing access to the great surrounding views on the clifftop. Signposted from the village of Bohinjska Bela, south east of Bled lake by the road to Bohinj.QBohinjska Bela.

Lake Bled Bled’s most famous feature is the crystal-clear lake which has an island crowned by the 55-metre tower of the Baroque Church of the Assumption. The backdrop of mountains makes this view especially irresistible. Visitors can take a boat tour to the island (€12) on characteristic pletna boats, which include half an hour to wander around or visit the church. Boats leave from the Health Park, at Hotel Park and at the rowing centre. bled.inyourpocket.com

Catbriyur Porcelain Handcrafted by Slovene couple Katja and Jure Bricman, Catbriyur porcelain has long been recognised as some of the finest functional art pieces to be produced in the country. While strictly speaking their premises in Bled are more a shop than a gallery, that doesn’t mean you can’t stop by to browse - just be careful you don’t break anything, as many of the items are in the ‘price on request’ range. Distinguished by their irregular shapes and design, each cup, plate, tray, clock and piece of jewellery is literally one of kind, although there are several different series executed in the same motifs and styles. If our recommendation is not enough for you, proud owners of Catbriyur porcelain include Vladimir Putin, the King of Norway and most famously Her Majesty Queen Elisabeth II, who was presented an exclusive gold-encrusted Royal Collection tea set during her official state visit to Slovenia a few years ago. If you were interested in making a purchase by which to remember your time in the Slovenian Alps, the most appropriate item is perhaps the small bell that was inspired by Bled’s own Legend of the Sunken Bell.QCesta Svobode 18, tel. +386 (0)4 574 39 17, catbriyur.bled@ gmail.com, www.catbriyur.ne. Open 10:00 - 13:00 & 15:00-18:00.

Etnogalerija Pletna Alongside the accommodation of the same name, Etno Galerija Pletna is full to bursting with all manner of homemade and traditional products, arts and crafts. The Etno Galerija is an interesting spot to pop your head into as you enjoy a lazy stroll around this stunning body of wa-

slovenia.inyourpocket.com facebook.com/bled.inyourpocket

Tourist information Bled Tourist Board QD-2, Cesta Svobode 11, tel. +386 (0)4 578 05 00, fax +386 (0)4 578 05 01, info@dzt.bled.si, www.bled.si.

Bled Tours Bled’s top travel agency are the people to visit for all of your travel and tourism related needs. They specialise in tours and excursions in and around Bled, Bohinj and Kranjska Gora, but can also make arrangements for guided tours to any other location in Slovenia or even abroad, and arrange business conferences, meetings and weddings as well. If you need accommodation they have a directory of some 70 private apartments of all price ranges to choose from.QE-2, Ljubljanska 19, tel. +386 (0)4 574 35 20/+386 (0)31 321 100, agency@bledtours.si, www.bledtours.si.

Pletna Tours In our humble opinion there is no better way than to get to Bled Island than via the traditional Pletna boat.

The vessel most associated with the lake and island, its origins go back to the 1590s. A flat-bottom wooden boat with a pointed bow and widened stern, it can transport as many as 20 people from shore to island at one time. It also offers it name to a group providing tours of the region. For €65 you get a three hour guided tour of the town and the lake, (plus €12 transport costs to the island via a Pletna boat of course). Also on offer are guided tours of Bled and nearby Bohinj, for €120. Head to the website for more information.

Qtel. +386 (0)41 94 81 68, pletna@siol.net, www. pletna.si.

TIC Bled QD-3, Cesta svobode 10, tel. +386 (0)4574 11 22, fax +386 (0)4574 15 55, tdbled@ telemach.net, www.bled.si. ter. QCesta Svobode 37, tel./fax +386 (0)45 74 37 02, pletna@bled.net, www.pletna.com.

Gallery 14 A superb gallery space for Bled, from the Studio Černe outfit in Ljubljana. With exhibition activities in contemporary art and sculpture, plus high quality artistic equipment and materials, it’s a welcome addition to the cultural scene in town. The house in which the gallery resides, on Prešernova Cesta, bequeaths the heritage of one especially well known Černe, namely Josef, an ancestor of the modern gallery owning family whose saddle-making was known all the way to Vienna. There are two spaces here, 30m2 each, with temporary and permanent exhibitions of a diverse range of Slovene and foreign artists’ works.QPrešernova 14, tel. +386 (0)4 574 34 63, info@ studiocerne.si, www.studiocerne.si. Open Thu, Fri 15:00 - 19:00, Sat 09.00 - 13:00. Closed Mon, Tue, Wed. Summer - Autumn 2014

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Sightseeing Bled island Of the many aesthetic wonders of Lake Bled, it is Bled Island (Blejski Otok) that is without doubt the most iconic.

It adorns the cover of this and pretty much every other guide dedicated to Bled, and a large chunk of guides for the entire country, and with good reason. It is the only true island in the entire country after all. It certainly isn’t huge, but the phrase ‘small but perfectly formed’ has never felt more apt. It is only accessible by boat, but we truly can’t think of any mode of transport we’d rather use to reach it.

The Church of the Mother of the God on the Lake (mouthy name, but rather poetic in Slovene) dominates the landscape, both visually and culturally. First mentioned in the 12th century, it has a history that stretches way before that and has undergone many renovations since. Thousands head to ring its Wishing Bell annually, which is purported to bring luck to those that ring it. USA Today included it in its list of the most beautiful churches in the world, for quite obvious reasons.

Elsewhere on the island we find a Bell Tower with a renewed Pendulum Clock at the top, not a spark of electricity in sight. There is also an exhibition house showcasing some of the finest Slovene art from past and present, as well as a fascinating permanent exhibition focused on traditional dress. Wrap up your visit by tasting Potica, a sort of nut roll made with all sorts of fillings, in the attractive café before returning to the shore.

old dessert fresh. Walnut potica is the most common but the truth is that the number of fillings is left up entirely to the imagination of the person baking it.

Everything from hazelnut to chocolate to even sausage and fish, there really are no limits to what can be put inside. The variety doesn’t end there, as it can be eaten hot or cold, with cutlery or (obviously the best option) with your hands. Baking demonstrations and packages are available in the café on Bled Island. Email ahead to organize.QBled Island, tel. +386 (0)4 576 79 01, info@blejskiotok.si, www.blejskiotok.si. Open 09:00-16:00 (Nov-Mar), 09:00-18:00 (Apr & Oct), 09:00-19:00 (May-Sept).

Bell Tower and Pendulum Clock Separate from the church itself, the Bell Tower is 52m high and contains one large and two small bells. Every 15 minutes the bells chime to bring in the quarter, meaning there are plenty of opportunities to see the clock in action. Two opposite winding staircases lead the way up and down. The way up is punctuated with information boards following the history of apparatus used to tell time, from using the position of the sun all the way through to the atomic clock. On the journey down however, these signs contain biblical verses made to encourage appreciation of how little time we have on this planet, and the importance of using it wisely. Some of them may be a little bleak, but the message is undeniably positive and clear.

The Church of the Mother of God on the Lake The most iconic feature of the most iconic attraction in the country, it is the image of the church on the island that attracts so many curious visitors to Bled and Slovenia every single year. Whilst the location of it alone is reason enough to visit, the church itself is full of history and legend. It started life as a small wooden chapel, before being expanded into a church and renovated on many occasions through the centuries. A most understated elegance underpins the interior, with the Stations of the Cross predominantly showcased. The golden baroque altar juxtaposes gracefully with the faded frescoes on either side of it.

It is the Wishing Bell that gets the most attention however, and the story of its coming to be is a curious mix of fact and fiction. A lady, who lived at Bled Castle, had the bell made from her jewellery after the violent death of her husband.

However, as the bell was being rowed out to the island from the shore, a storm hit causing the boat and all its contents (both human and decorative) to sink to the bottom of the lake. She was devastated, so she moved to Rome and took up life in a convent. When she died, the Pope was so devastated that he ordered the building of another bell to be transported to Bled. Now, the story, we aren’t sure, but it is a fact that the bell that rings out from the island today was made in Rome. Purported to give luck to those who ring it, it is a must-do when on the island.

Potica When it comes to sweets, Bled is first and foremost known for its famous cream cakes, which originated here in the 1950s. But in Slovenia as a whole, the nut roll cake known as potica is the traditional dessert of choice during most holidays and other important events. Regardless of the holiday, no Slovene celebration is complete without Potica. A traditional pastrybased nut roll baked in a bread oven using a round baking dish made of clay called a Potičnica, each region does it slightly differently keeping this centuries 24 Bled In Your Pocket

Sales Gallery & Café You didn’t think Bled Island would go without a souvenir shop did you? The shop doubles (or triples, more accurately) with a café and a gallery showcasing the artistic works of many Slovene artists including Miha Maleš. The shop is choc-full of traditional handicrafts and local products, twisted and turned into modern souvenirs. Nice tshirts too. Far from the tacky trap it could be, it somehow manages to add an element of class to the tourist souvenir shop, which is an impressive feat. The café is the perfect place to relax before getting the boat back to shore. Relax with a coffee and a slice of potica, taking in your last views of the lake from the island before heading back.

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CHURCH OF THE MOTHER OF GOD ON THE LAKE

VIEW BELL TOWER with restored pendulum clock

WEDDINGS in the church on Bled Island

SALES GALLERY with Slovenian art and handicraft

POTICA delicious Slovenian traditional pastry

Blejski otok

Slovenija

www.blejskiotok.si info@blejskiotok.si T: +386 4 576 79 79

Sightseeing Natural Attractions Blejski Vintgar (Vintgar Gorge) One of the most spectacular natural sights in Slovenia is hidden away just north of Gorje and only 4km from Bled.

The Vintgar Gorge, known locally as Soteska Vintgar or Blejski Vintgar, was during the last ice age when glacial movements forced the crystalline waters of the Radovna river to the northeast, where it was able to slowly cut its way through the limestone terrain, creating sheer canyon walls reaching heights of up to 100m.

Only officially discovered in 1891, the gorge’s natural beauty was immediately recognised and work commenced on the construction of a wooden walkway along its 1.6km length, opening to the public only two years later on 26 August 1893. The walkway has been renovated several times over the past century, but still looks very much the way it did when it first opened. Nowadays it leads awe-inspired visitors past rapids, pools and overgrown rocky crags to the 16m-high Šum waterfall at the gorgećs furthest end, which is said to be the highest fluvial waterfall in all of Slovenia. The short but breathtaking trek is definitely a must-do for anyone who visits the region!Qwww.vintgar.si. Open April - October 08:00-19:00.

Mežakla Mežakla is a long undulating plateau about 15 km long, in the foothills of the Julian Alps. It is mostly covered with spruce and beech trees. There are many pastures and clear streams on the plateau. Mežakla is part of Triglav National Park, and can be easily accessed by forest road in Spodnje Gorje. The main attraction is a natural bridge and hidden partisan hospital.

Pokljuka Canyon Besides the famous Vintgar gorge you can visit a beautiful canyon near Krnica. The long and dramatic void is the remainder of the Ribščice stream, carved during the retreat of glaciers into limestone rock. It is the largest fossil

It’s 99 steps to reach the church on Bled Island, photo by Michele Alfieri / Shutterstock

26 Bled In Your Pocket

Sports & Activities canyon in Slovenia. Here we also find some karst features, such as a natural bridge, overhanging rocks and caves. The most famous is the Pokljuka gorge. Last century a narrow footbridge was built at the canyon’s narrowest point and subsequently named after a Serbian prince.

Symbols of Bled Educational Beehouse Get a taste for good healthy Slovenian honey whilst in Bled, but not before you’ve earned it! By taking a one to two hour tour, you will see about 50 bee families at work (providing you come in season), admire the traditional hand-painted beehive panels, and learn and observe the life of the diligently renowned Carniolan bee. Only then can you taste and buy the produced golden stuff. Beehive panel painting workshops take place under a typical Slovene kozolec (hayrack), and children can delight in natural science days. Beekeeper Blaž Ambrožič will be your guide, with up to 20-30 visitors hosted at any one time. Located just south of Bled, in the village of Selo pri Bledu.QSelo pri Bledu, tel. +386 (0)41 65 71 20/+386 (0)41 22 74 07, www.kralov-med.si.

Fijaker Coachmen Proud of their tradition, the Bled coachmen offer their services of horse drawn carriage transport every day of the year. Treat your loved one to a ride, be it rain or shine, their special umbrellas will stave off the elements should the latter threaten to dampen one’s spirits. Tradition can be seen most of all in the Fijaker uniform, complete with a jacket adorned of ruby red Gorenjska carnations, their top hats bouncing along as they whisk you almost anywhere in Bled lake’s vicinity or further afield, and even wait for a romantic drink or meal to be enjoyed, to then take you back. Turn up at their station in front of Festival Hall (Festivalna dvorana) in the summer months to find them waiting, in winter but their sign and contact details, on which you can also buy a gift voucher for the said loved one.Qtel. +386 (0)41 69 34 41/+386 (0)31 31 68 02, www.fijaker-bled.si.

Pletna Boats There’s a local saying, whereby one hasn’t really visited Bled without taking a ride in one of its traditional Pletna boats. Thought to have perhaps derived from the German ‘plateboot’, meaning flat bottomed boat, the Pletna has a history stretching back to the end of the 16th century.

Since then the respected profession of oarsman has been handed down through generations, with a special technique of standing rowing mastered by only a few. So board the wooden vessel at its widened stern, its pointed bow aimed at the other side of the turquoise waters, or squarely at the island, and be carried across, protected from the sun or rain by its colourful awning. The Pletna piers are located under Spa Park, the Park Hotel Bled café in Mlino and in Velika Zaka.Qtel. +386 (0)41 427 155, tdbled@telemach. net, www.td-bled.si. Open Nov - Mar 08:00-18:00, Sun & holidays 08:00-13:00; April - June & Sept - Oct 08:0019:00, Sun & holidays 11:00-17:00; Jul - Aug 08:00-21:00, Sun & holidays 10:00-18:00. Tickets €12. bled.inyourpocket.com

Hit the links at Bled Golf Course, photo by Marko5 / Shutterstock

Known primarily for the beauty of its lake, castle and island-bound church, Bled also offers a wealth of sports opportunities for professionals, enthusiasts and families. For taking in the natural sights of the area there are numerous walking, hiking, cycling and horseback riding opportunities, while a bird’s eye view can be had by paragliding or ballooning. In addition, there are fine facilities for golf, mini golf, beach volleyball and tennis.

Centred around a lake and rivers, there are also many water sports to choose from, including swimming, rafting, fishing, rowing and for those who’d like to get a bit more extreme diving, canyoning and hydrospeed. Surrounded by the Alps, sports such as skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, ice skating and ice climbing are popular during the winter months. And last but not least, for technophiles there is ample opportunity to hunt for treasure using so-called geocaching apps on your smartphone or other GPS-enable devices.

Golf Bled Golf & Country Club Situated only 4km from the town centre, Bled Golf Course first opened in 1937 and was redesigned by famous golf architect Donald Harradine in 1972. It’s the oldest Slovenian golf course and is said to be one of the most beautiful facebook.com/bled.inyourpocket

Hiking in the Hills Above the Lake Straža A leisurely walk to the top, or chairlift, allows visitors to enjoy views of the lake from the south-east, the castle and also Mt. Stol in the middle distance. Both summer and winter activities are possible here, it being the best place to ski in Bled itself.

Osojnica Perhaps the best known spot for Bled’s burgeoning portfolio of photography, especially by the professionals, Osojnica is a 45-minute trek on a steep forest path, rising first to a peak of 685m (Mala Osojnica) then to 756m (Velika Osojnica), offering views of the main mountain ranges to the east, and the whole Gorenjska plain.

Ojstrica The narrow peaked mountain by name is a relatively easy walk from Camping Bled (turn left if coming from town), the said peak of which offering really good views of the lake and campsite.

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Sports & Activities

Sports & Activities Swimming Public Lido Just below Bled’s castle rock, a grassy beach awaits those that want to go swimming in beautiful Bled lake.

The swimming area is protected and kept clean for the safety of guests, and you can also rent a sun-bed, umbrella or mat for a small fee, or you can just bring your own and hide under the shade of the trees along the beach. A water slide on the premises is perfect for those coming with kids.QA-3, Veslaška Promenada 1, tel. +386 (0)4 578 05 28, turizem@ibled.si, www. kopalisce-bled.si.

PUBLIC LIDO www.kopalisce-bled.si SUMMER TOBOGGANING at Straža Bled www.straza-bled.si info@ibled.si

golf courses in central Europe. The green fees are not the cheapest in the country, but one look at the stunning vistas and the impressive course itself, and most players will consider it well worth it. There is both an 18-hole course and 9-hole short course, and real enthusiasts can combine them for a 27 holes of golfing bliss in a single day.QVrba 37a, tel. +386 (0)1 200 99 01, info@golfbled.si, www. golfbled.si. 18 holes €60/70 on weekdays/at the weekend, 9 holes €35. Discount packages are available for weekend stays, see the website for more info.

Mini Golf With 3628 square metres of area, 18 holes and 228 metres of total length this is one of the largest classic mini golf playgrounds in Europe! A host of competitions are held here, but most of all miniature golf, as we all know, is about swinging your club in anger at a sibling opponent. Don’t

adventure park A family adventure park with suspended footbridges, monkey bars, suspension bridges, carabiners and zip cords, Adventure Park (or Pustolovksi Park in Slovene) is suitably situated in a forest. The 65 attractions and challenges are both professionally built to EU standards and constructed with respect for the natural surroundings. You’ll not find any tubular painted steel here, just logs, ropes and the odd steel cable to aid the adrenaline-filled descent from your suspended activities (between one and eight metres high). Popular with families, adults and groups alike; there are five differently coloured climbing tracks of varying difficulty. A brief safety course and all equipment are provided before entrance to the park. Located at the top of Straža ski centre.QStraža, tel. +386 (0)31 76 16 61, info@pustolovski-park-bled.si, www.pustolovskipark-bled.si. 7 April - 22 June Saturday, Sunday and public holidays from 11:00-18:00

Wellness Ayurveda Centre Kompas Bled The modern world can be an extremely stressful place.

We are the ambitious generation, and coming to terms with pressures, both internal and external, is taxing now and then. Where better to de-stress than in the recently opened Ayurveda Center at the beautiful Kompas Hotel. Focused on traditional Indian medicine, the singular focus is on balancing the body, the mind and the spirit whilst reducing stress to its minimal level. Multi-day therapeutic programs are available, as well as programs for detoxification and much more. Call the Kompas Hotel for more info.QCankarjeva 2, tel. +386 (0)4 620 51 00, reservations@kompas-lovec.com, www.kompaslovec.com.

Wellness Essense Bled Lake Bled is possibly the ultimate place for relaxation, and there isn’t a better option to indulge in this than Wellness Essense Bled. Located in the Penzion Alp guesthouse, a traditional Alpine pension itself, a wide range of treatments are available to suit all desires. Of particular interest is the Hay Sauna, a unique combination of traditional sauna and aroma-therapy with the added leisure of the countryside. It is a strangely enjoyable experience that we wholeheartedly recommend.

Reservation is necessary for all services available.QCankarjeva 20c, tel. +386 (0)4 5767 450, info@essense.si, www.essense.si. Živa Wellness Živa means several things in Slovenian, one of them being ‘lively’ - and that’s just how you’ll feel after a full body and soul solution at this wellness centre. With a holistic approach to physical rejuvenation, there’s a wide range of massage available, body and facial treatments, plus a variety of saunas, and a plethora of water based delights to be lapped up; two floors of thermal pools, and of course a whirlpool. Well if it was good enough for Arnold Rikli!QD-3, Cankarjeva 4, tel. +386 (0)4 579 17 02, ziva@ hotelibled.com, www.wellness-ziva.com. Open 07:00 21:00, Fri, Sat 07:00 - 23:00. PTAULG

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forget to bring good sportsmanship with your competitive spirit!QD-2/3, Cesta Svobode 15, tel. +386 (0)41 840 079. Open 09:30-23:00 April to October.

Straža Hill

Bled boasts countless family-friendly activities

28 Bled In Your Pocket

Summer Tobogganing If you’d like to spice up your stay in Bled, then consider a visit to Straža Hill, which offers remarkable views and favourite recreational ground, only a few minutes’ walk from the centre of Bled. From spring to autumn you can enjoy in adrenaline-drenched sledding (ie summer tobogganing). The 520m track has an elevation difference of 131m, with sleds reaching speeds of up to 40 km/h - a real rollercoaster ride! A chairlift takes you on the top of the hill, and you can also take a relaxing walk on one of the many marked pathways or do some serious exercise along the Rikli Fitness Trail.QD-3, Pod Stražo, tel. +386 (0)4 578 05 30/+386 (0)31 330 647, turizem@ibled.si, www.strazabled.si. Open 10:00-20:00 every day from 22 June to 1 Sept, 11:00-18:00 Sat-Sun only from 27 April to 21 June and in Sept, and 11:00-17:00 Sat-Sun only in Oct. €5-14. bled.inyourpocket.com

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Hotels

Hotels from the superb 18-hole golf course, other treats include good wellness facilities, conference rooms and a magnificent indoor swimming pool.QD-3, Cankarjeva 4, tel. +386 (0)45 79 17 00, hotelgolf@hotelibled.com, www. sava-hotels-resorts.com. 150 rooms (singles €125-165, doubles €139-190, suites €185-265). PTHAR� LGKDXCW hhhh Kompas We can’t resist a panoramic terrace in the summer, with views looking over the lake and the mountains in the distance. In fact, we defy anyone to resist. Hotel Kompas offers this in its most charming veranda, but that is just the tip of this most luxurious iceberg. Built in an Alpine style to compliment the environment in which it finds itself, Kompas also has relaxation and fitness centres for those wanting to de-stress or exercise respectively. Biotherapy is even on offer.QD-3, Cankarjeva 2, tel. +386 (0)4 620 51 00, info@kompashotel.com, www.kompashotel.com.

95 rooms (singles €104, doubles €119, suites €178).

PTHA6UFLGKDXCW hhhh

The Garden Village Resort is both Bled’s newest and most unique accommodation option

Bled provides plenty of choice for those wishing to make more than a day out of their visit to the town. As well as the hotel listings here, the tourist information advisors can provide the visitor with plenty of advice on the best accommodation options available. Be warned though that during the peak summer and winter seasons rooms fill up fast.

Cream of the Crop Grand Hotel Toplice Complete with its legendary thermal swimming pool that provides more than enough of a reason to stay here anyway, Toplice’s rather stark exterior betrays wealth of comfort and style inside its walls. The rooms and suites are all well-designed, some of them exceedingly elegant, and all coming with en suite bathrooms, cable television, minibars and internet access. The lakeside location is arguably the best in Bled, with further attractions including three restaurants plus two bars, as well as excellent wellness and conference facilities.QD-3, Cesta Svobode 12, tel. +386 (0)4 579 10 00, ghtoplice@hotelibled.com, www. sava-hotels-resorts.com. 87 rooms (singles €140-180, doubles €158-220, suites €252-600). PHARU� FLGKDXCW hhhhh

Upmarket Best Western Premier Hotel Lovec Standing for over 100 years now, Hotel Lovec brings a unique hominess to the Bled accommodation table. Its architecture is informed and influenced by its surroundings, 30 Bled In Your Pocket

leaving it in complete harmony with the beauty it finds itself in. The on-site wellness centre makes Lovec the very definition of relaxation, a peaceful utopia in the most gorgeous of surroundings. The grill restaurant is well worth nipping into as well. Hotel Lovec truly is the complete package.QD-3, Ljubljanska 6, tel. +386 (0)4 620 41 00, info@lovechotel.com, www.lovechotel.com. 60 rooms from €114. PHAR6ULGKDXCW hhhh

Park Hotel Bled A huge waterside hotel from the golden age of Yugoslavia, with splendid balconies, nicely appointed rooms all coming with en suite facilities, an indoor heated pool and a definite emphasis on wellness and fitness in general. All rooms overlooking the lake come with air conditioning, plus there’s a nice choice of bars and restaurants. The hotel is famous for its kremšnita cream cakes, which it has

Hotel Listings Policy Hotels are listed strictly by price band, and then by alphabetical order within that band. The price band refers to the rack rate for a double room. now produced over 12 million of.QD-2/3, Cesta Svobode 15, tel. +386 (0)4 579 18 00, hotelpark@hotelibled. com, www.sava-hotels-resorts.com. 217 rooms (singles €125-145, doubles €121-170, suites €230-250).

ARUFLGKDXCW hhhh Triglav Situated on the less-developed western shore of the lake, this recently renovated Bled mainstay has thankfully managed to maintain the rustic charm and elegance you would expect from a hundred-year old hotel located in one of Slovenia’s most idyllic settings. As long as you’re not adverse to the colour yellow, it’s 22 cozy rooms and excellent service are a great value, especially during the low season. Just make sure to request a lake view. The hotel also arranges a variety of activities and excursions, from cooking workshops to horseback riding to day-long steam train journeys through the Alps.QA-2, Kolodvorska 33, tel. +386 (0)45 75 26 10/+386 (0)31 300 097, fax +386 (0)45 75 26 11, info@hoteltriglavbled.si, www.hoteltriglavbled.si. 22 rooms (singles €89-139, doubles €109-259, suites €199-359). PTJA� RUIFLEGDW

Garden Village Resort It’s a point that’s been rammed home to the point of fatigue, but Bled is a beautiful place, the hotels are beautiful, everything is beautiful. For somewhere to stand out it must truly be special, and we’re still not sure if the term ‘special’ really does Garden Village Resort justice at all. Opening this in the summer of 2014, it’s a romantic’s dream. The simple exteriors mask the most stylish interiors in this dream-like accommodation. Tree houses, a garden restaurant with a small stream dissecting it, it even provides a studio apartment with a Jacuzzi in the living room.QCesta Gorenjskega Odreda 16, tel. +386 (0)41 61 63 02, info@gardenvillagebled.com, www. gardenvillagebled.com.

Golf A smidgen up the hill from the lake in a secluded area of trees, the almost pagoda-looking Hotel Golf’s reputation as a haven of tranquillity is clearly warranted. The cool blue and cream rooms feature en suite facilities with either bath or shower, cable television and balconies, some with excellent views of the lake and mountains. Four kilometres bled.inyourpocket.com

Follow in the footsteps of Tito at the splendid Vila Bled

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Hotels

Hotels Vila Istra This grand 19th century villa has been transformed into a boutique design hotel combining majestic old world style with contemporary comforts. Located just across the road from the lake, Vila Istra’s luxurious rooms are a romantic choice with stunning views. Not just catering to love birds, the hotel is a great option for families with kids sure to enjoy the in-room 3D TVs and Playstation gaming room. The villa’s garden café and restaurant is a great spot for a coffee and/or sweet (perhaps a kremšnita), whilst innovative seasonal dishes highlight the menu at lunch and dinner.QCesta Svobode 35, tel. +386 (0)59 0808 08, book@vila-istra.info, vila-istra.info.

Mid-Range +386 59 08 08 08 book@vila-istra.info

Vila Istra, Cesta Svobode 35, 4260 Bled www.vila-istra.info

Vila Alice As far as first impressions go, Vila Alice really couldn’t make a better one. A short walk from the lake and the bus station, this century old house has been modernised in the most adorable fashion and simply put is one of the prettiest boutique hotels we’ve come across. Seven spacious rooms fill the house, with the room named ‘Fire’ being the standout. The staff is multi-lingual and immensely helpful, the breakfast is beautifully varied. Such attention to detail is to be cherished.QD-2, Prešernova 26, tel. +386 (0)40 231 303, fax +386 (0)4 574 30 50, info@vila-alice.com, www.vila-alice.si. 7 rooms (singles €100, twins €160, superior €240). PJHARLBDW Vila Bled Whilst the grand stairs leading up to an equally grand building may look a little daunting at first, what is waiting at the top is quite the treat. Josip Tito deemed it good enough to act as his summer residence and many foreign dignitaries were hosted here, such as Soviet leader Nikita Krushchev, Indira Ghandi and even Kim Il Sung. Since opening as a hotel in 1984, it has also had Prince Charles, Paul McCartney and Eva Herzigova through its doors. Quite the list. Spacious suites with elegant 1950s furnishing are the order of the day, with a gorgeous restaurant and peaceful coffee room to boot.QB-4, Cesta Svobode 26, tel. +386 (0)4 575 37 10, vilabled@gov.si, www.vilabled.com. Open from April till October. 32 rooms, €145-550 with breakfast.

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Alp Penzion A pension in traditional alpine style with a Wellness Centre attached for which guests get a grand 50% discount, not to mention free use of bikes, tennis courts and a garden grill. The outside sauna and jacuzzi are perfect for relaxation with the backdrop of the Julian Alps and Karavanke Mountain in the distance. Getting to the centre of town is about a 10 minute walk.

QE-4, Cankarjeva 20a, tel. +386 (0)45 74 16 14, fax +386 (0)45 74 45 90, bled@alp-penzion.com, www.alp-penzion. com. 12 rooms (singles €45-70, doubles €68-98, suites €90140). TARULGBKW hhhh Jadran The Garni Hotel Jadran, with its distinctive large balconies entwined with thick green ivy, richly old-fashioned rooms and architecturally pleasing structure is a gratifying choice of accommodation, not to mention its location being close to explore the beautiful surroundings Bled has to offer.

Breakfast is served in a deliberately retro-style parlour and you can opt for dinner at its partner restaurant, the Panorama.QD-3, Cesta Svobode 21, tel. +386 (0)4 579 13 65, fax +386 (0)4 574 16 61, hoteljadran@hotelibled.com, www. sava-hotels-resorts.com. 45 rooms (singles € 81-91, doubles €88-106). TJHA6ULBK hhh Jelovica Located just a leisurely stroll through a park from the lake itself, Jelovica is a large and well established hotel with excellent facilities. Rooms are well appointed, coming with en suite fa-

HOTEL JELOVICA BLED d.o.o.

Cesta Svobode 8 SI4260 Bled, Slovenija, EU Tel: +386-4-5796-000 jelovica@hotel-jelovica.si www.hotel-jelovica.si

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VILA ALICE www.vila-alice.com

cilities, hair-dryers, cable television, balconies and safes. Communal extras include a restaurant, bar, billiards club and indoor swimming pool. Its grand size means that large groups are catered for with ease and there’s plenty of parking (also for buses).QD-2, Svobode 8, tel. +386 (0)45 79 60 00, fax +386 (0)4 579 60 10, jelovica@hotel-jelovica.si, www.hotel-jelovica. si. 100 rooms (singles €47-77, doubles €30-70, apartments €95-140). AFLGKDXCW hhh Jezerska Hiša This small family run inn offers homey accommodation amidst the lush greenery of the Bled golf course (4km from Lake Bled) - the perfect place for a peaceful retreat or, depending on how you play, a relaxing golfing weekend. The staff are very helpful, whilst rooms are comfortable and spacious with balconies looking out to the mountains. Guests also receive an excellent complementary breakfast and exclusive access to the immaculate golf course. The inn’s restaurant serve very good local specialities with decent value set menus.QBled Golf Course, Alpska 114, tel. +386 (0)4 53 73 305/+386 (0)41 762 636, lakehousebled@gmail.com, www.lake-house-bled.com. 3 rooms (doubles €60-90, triples €90-135).

Penzion Mlino Nestled neatly on the coastline of the lake, Penzion Mlino provides not only some of the most enchanting views of the lake but also a great option for staying in Bled - guests can even take advantage of free bike rentals. Thirteen simple but elegantly furnished en suite rooms are complimented by the restaurant, which serves some of the best venison facebook.com/bled.inyourpocket

we’ve had. The restaurants also has a number of different restaurant rooms to suit any and all moods.QD-3, Cesta Svobode 45, tel. +386 (0)4 574 14 04, fax +386 (0)4 574 15 06, mlino@mlino.si, www.mlino.si. 13 rooms €25-35.

Penzion Zaka On the north side of the lake, Pension Zaka somehow manages to give the feeling of being away from the tourists even in the height of summer. Ten clean and spacious rooms, all with free Wi-Fi, provide an excellent option for a nights stay on the lake. There is also much in the way of recreational activities available, with four tennis claycourts available between April and October. The restaurant serves good quality food too, rounding out this underrated option.QŽupančičeva 9, tel. +386 (0)4 574 17 09, info@bled-zaka.com, www.bled-zaka.com.

Savica The magnificently renovated Savica is one of Slovenia’s more family-friendly hotels. With a grand total of 90 bright, colourful rooms and 14 apartments complete with selfcontained kitchen units, facilities include cable television, en suite facilities with a choice of either bath or shower, minibars and balconies in every room. Attractions for families travelling with their children include interconnected rooms, two communal play areas and the occasional children’s entertainment.QCankarjeva 6, tel. +386 (0)45 79 19 00, hotelsavica@hotelibled.com, www.sava-hotels-resorts. com. 104 rooms (singles €88-100, doubles €112-170, suites €176-560). PTARFLKDC hhh Summer - Autumn 2014

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Bohinj

Hotels Trst A friendly, small hotel along the main high street offers rooms with a view of the Bled’s castle and lake, but its doorstep is almost crammed up onto its busy, noisy street. Due to the hotel’s lack of services, it invites its guests for discounts and special offers at its sister hotels: Grand Hotel Toplice for its thermal pool and wellness programmes, and the nearby Golf Hotel which provides a beauty centre, a sauna and more besides.QD-3, Svobode 19, tel. +386 (0)4 579 12 86, fax +386 (0)4 574 16 61, hoteltrst@hotelibled.com, www. sava-hotels-resorts.com. 22 rooms (singles €71, doubles €88-106). TJA6UGKDC hhh

perience a taste of the old life, both metaphorically and literally. In terms of accommodation, the farmhouse offers singles, doubles and apartments for up to four - but most tourist farmhouses also cater to lunch visitors by arrangement. With their organic vegetable garden, goats’ cheese making tradition, 100% organic juices, plus all manner of ‘domača hrana’, guests can recharge their souls, along with their batteries through the numerous outdoor activities possible in the surroundings. Have you ever milked a goat?QKupljenik 1A, tel. +386 (0)45 72 00 86/+386 (0)40 61 71 83, fax +386 (0)45 76 00 80, dolinar.lojze@ siol.net, www.dolinar-krainer.com.

Budget

Mulej Farm If a holiday on a farm or agritourism in general appeals to you then this is one place to look into. The family who run it are more than happy to let their guests get involved in the everyday running of the farmhouse. It’s a complete wonderland for children, who can feed the animals, milk the cows, horse-ride and play with the kids that live on the premises. You can eat fresh organic food that has been grown on the farm and guests are welcome to purchase fresh milk, cheeses, marmalade, jam and meats. A memorable experience for enjoying agricultural life first hand. The centre of Bled is a mile walk away.QSelo pri Bledu 42, tel. +386 (0)45 74 46 17, info@mulej-bled.com, www.mulej-bled.com. 10 rooms (€30 with breakfast, €40 with breakfast and dinner). TLK

Pletna Rooms A welcoming family-owned establishment in the small lakeside village of Milno (only a mile away from the centre of Bled) provides an enjoyable stay full of activities at your very doorstep. Directly in front of the pension, you will find a perfect spot for swimming out into the pristine lake on a summer’s day or you can opt to hire a boat, also at the wharf to the lake’s little islet for just €12-17.QC-4, Cesta Svobode 37, tel. +386 (0)4 57 43 702/+386 (0)41 393 899, pletna@bled.net, www. sloveniaholidays.com/sobe-pletna. (singles €40, doubles €65, triples €75). TJA6LW hhh

Hostels Hostel Hacienda Situated in a quiet neighbourhood some 400m from the lake, guest are able to enjoy the kind of peace and relaxation that is more or less impossible to come by in the always bustling centre of town. The house is surrounded by a large garden where guests can freely play volleyball, badminton or football, and inside there’s a party room downstairs with table football and darts.

Those staying three or more days can get free transfers to the local bus and train stations, a 50% discount to the airport and further discounts the Bled Tours travel agency, which also runs the place.QE-4, Jelovška 25, tel. +386 (0)31 321 100, agency@bledtours.si. Bed 17-21€.

A6LBXW Traveller’s Haven This lovely 20th century house turned youth-hostel is perfect for the backpacker or budget traveller seeking a cheap bunk-bed and a location that is close to the town, the lake and a supermarket. Guests can make use of the common room, kitchen, an internet-connected computer and a washing machine, and borrow bikes for free.QD-2, Riklijeva 1, tel. +386 (0)41 396 545, travellers-haven@t-2.net, www. travellers-haven.si. 6 rooms (dorms €19, doubles €48).

Pristine Bohinj Lake is only a short drive from Bled

Apartments Bled Apartments Only 800m from the lake on the main road into town, Bled Apartments offer self-catering accommodation just a short walk away from everything. With studios and apartments for up to four people, it has free on-site parking and plenty of amenities just a stones throw away. Frequent last minute special offers are available, including such gems as a free boat ride out to the island on the lake. Free Wi-Fi is offered throughout as well.QLjubljanska 32, tel. +386 (0)41 66 76 61, bled.apartments@gmail.com, www. bledapartment.si.

BLED APARTMENTS

Tourist Farms Dolinar-Krainer Located midway between Bled and Bohinj, the DolinarKrainer farmhouse is yet another beautiful option to ex34 Bled In Your Pocket

Bled Apartments l Ljubljanska cesta 32 l P.: +386 (0)41 667 661 www.bledapartment.si l bled.apartments@gmail.com

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The alpine valley of Bohinj is located in the stunning Triglav National Park, and its surroundings are truly unspoiled with the feeling of mass tourism is nowhere to be found. People here are the definition of amiable, attentive and courteous. This is where you come if you want to be treated as a guest, not as a client. Everyone here knows each other and there’s a genuine sense of camaraderie. You’ll see them recommending each others’ restaurants and hotels, instead of being overly competitive and trying to hoard all the tourists. Not once from all the places we’ve visited did we encounter bad service, or good service that didn’t seem genuine.

Just don’t expect a lot of frills. Nightlife is practically non-existent and overly luxurious hotels are hard to find. Come here to ski at one of several resorts in the vicinity, with your family for an active holiday or with your partner to enjoy the beauty of nature.

What to see Bohinj Boat Tours What better way to see all that Lake Bohinj has to offer than via a guided panoramic boat tour? The tours on offer won’t fail in providing inspiring scenery as you get to know the lake from its very heart. A choice of two boats is on offer (the Bohinj and the Zlatorog), with the first departures leaving at 10:00. There are two entry and exit points, one at the pier in Ribčev Laz and the second at camp Zlatorog in facebook.com/bled.inyourpocket

the village of Ukanc. The final boat from Ribčev Laz leaves at 17:30, with its equivalent in Ukanc departing 30 minutes later at 18:00. Whilst individuals could be able to turn up for a spot due to the frequent departures, groups are recommended to reserve in advance. The Bohinj boat has a capacity of 52 people, and the Zlatorog 75. Qtel. +386 (0)4 57 47 590, +386 41 644 986, info@bohinj.si, info@ tourist-boat.eu, www.bohinj.si, www.tourist-boat.eu.

Church of St John the Baptist It may only be a small church, but bigger isn’t always better when it comes to these things. Containing some of the oldest frescoes in the entire country, the church over a stone bridge at Bohinj is a monument of national importance to say the least. Whilst it receives its first official written mention in the 15th century, it is almost certainly older and it spans a number of different architectural periods from the Romanesque all the way to Baroque. The church is choc-full of fascination, whether it is the three wooden altars made at various points of the 17th century, the Gothic entryway or the baroque bell tower; there is something of interest at almost every turn. It is the frescoes that steal the show however, featuring among them a multi-layered depiction of St Christopher and a representation of Cain and Abel, complete with rare white devils. It takes a lot to challenge the majesty of the lake for main event status, but the Church of St John the Baptist comes dangerously close.

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Bohinj

Bohinj Around Bohinj Pokljuka (goreljek) Untouched, unspoiled and undiscovered: Pokljuka, the glacier formed, limestone plateau in the Julian Alps is all of these things. Being shrouded in spruce forest and sitting at 10001400m, it is mysterious when the weather is cloudy, but on sunny days it’s crystal clear and pristine in every way.

Launched as an alpine resort destination several years ago, with a few brand new or renovated hotels opened since, Pokljuka’s main attractions are the huge cross-country skiing/running track and world cup hosting biathlon center.

There are moderate difficulty hiking trails nearby, offering fantastic views, and rare alpine plant species to be found in and around the numerous bogs. Great for those wanting a peaceful and/or active mountain escape, at high altitude.

Lake Bohinj (Bohinjsko Jezero) Lake Bohinj, the jewel at the centre of this scattering of villages in eastern Gorenjska, is absolutely breathtaking.

Come early in the morning out of season, just before the sun has risen over the adjacent peaks to experience its awe. Mist shrouds the banks of this still and flat alpine wonder. The pure quiet of this location really brings nature to life once more. Only birdsong emanates from the surrounding Eden, the splash of one of Bohinj’s ‘yellowbellied’ fish, or the crash of Savica waterfall in the middle distance. Perhaps the only other detectable sound is the flap of the wings of large birds in flight over this crystal clear lake. By Bohinj you can be at one with yourself, and peace is unavoidable.

Mostnica Gorge (Korita Mostnice) The numerous signs, typically carved in log planks, direct you to this hidden gem. A tiny bridge tucked away in the hills behind Stara Fužina and the lake connects two sides of a deeply spectacular gorge. Take in a splendid view of Triglav while the turquoise torrent swirls below.QStara Fužina.

Mount Triglav Mount Triglav is the highest mountain in Slovenia, rising to 2864m in the centre of a national park of the same name.

The mountain is the symbol of Slovenia (it appears on the coat of arms), and the country’s flag was flown here on June 26th, 1991, the day Slovenia declared independence 36 Bled In Your Pocket

from Yugoslavia. The name, Triglav, means three-headed, as it looks to have three peaks when seen from the Bohinj valley.

The first recorded ascent of Triglav was made on 26 August 1778, by Luka Korošec, Matija Kos, Štefan Rožič and Lovrenc Willomitzer, on the initiative of baron Sigismund Zois. Its height was first measured in 1808

by Valentin Stanič. At the top of the mountain stands a tiny metal structure, the Aljaž Tower. A storm shelter for climbers, it is named after Jakob Aljaž, a priest who bought the land at the Triglav peak for a single AustroHungarian florin from the then municipality of Dovje in 1895.

Triglav today attracts skiers in winter (to nearby Vogel) and climbers in summer. The climb to the summit is not all that hard, but it is long. It’s a two-day ascent to the top, and requires an overnight stay in a mountain cabin.

Vogel View Point The Vogel Ski Centre is one of our favourite places to hit the slopes mainly because of the incredible panoramic views of the Julian Alps and Lake Bohinj, but you don’t need to wait for the snow to check out the views. In fact, without needing to worry about snowboarders cutting you off and with the mountainsides a bloom with wild flowers the views are possibly even more spectacular. There are also countless opportunities for hiking and mountain biking including at a newly opened bike park up on Vogel, making it a great year round destination.QUkanc 6, tel. +386 (0)4 5729 712, info@vogel. si, www.vogel.si. Cable car operates daily 08:00-18:00 (every half an hour), in summer 07:00-19:00. Return tickets €13.50 adults, €9 children (family discounts available).

See stunning views of Triglav National Park on the cablecar ride to Vogel

Sports & Activities

Hiking

Fishing Whether you are a serious angler or just looking to sit in a little boat all day drinking beer (yes, we learnt to fish in Australia), Lake Bohinj and the surrounding rivers are the perfect place to cast your line with the season running from 1 May to 14 November. Standing beside the lake you can see large schools of trout, the waters are also home to Charr, Chub and Burbot, but catching them is another story. To start with you’ll need a licence, gear and skill - or is fishing all about

luck? Bohinj being somewhat of a Mecca for Slovene anglers, the lake also hosts an annual international fishing festival at the end of September and beginning of October. For details about fishing in Bohinj including regulations, licence dealers, gear rental shops and much more check www.bohinj.si or contact one of the local tourist offices.

Bohinj represents a compelling base camp and starting point for hiking and mountaineering. Many sights are accessible to those of all abilities, including families - the lake itself is a natural paradise of serenity and stillness, then there’s Savica waterfall, Mostnica canyon and an entire realm of forests and pastures.

A panoramic view of the whole Bohinj valley can be had from Rudnica hill and there are plenty of higher peaks in the surrounding mountain range to keep altitude junkies fulfilled. For more information and maps, visit the Tourist Information Centre in Bohinjska Bistrica, or call +386 45 74 75 90.

Savica Waterfall (Slap Savica) Your time spent in Bohinj would not be complete without a day trip to one of Slovenia’s greatest waterfalls. To reach the waterfall it’s a roughly one hour walk up a thickly forested slope. The waterfall itself drops a towering 78m into a large water sink, which is located at an altitude of 500m.

An inspirational sight, it has often been written about by well-known Slovenian poets and writers. A small entrance fee is required at the entrance to the site.QU-7, Bohinjsko jezero, tel. +386 (0)4 574 60 10, info@bohinj-info.com, www.bohinj-info.com. Admission €1.10 - 2.50. bled.inyourpocket.com

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Bohinj Wellness AquaPark Bohinj Spend a fun-packed, wet and wild day at the AquaPark which includes an extensive array of swimming pools, toboggan slides, saunas, fitness programmes, massages and cosmetic services. An alternative choice in case of bad weather or to let the kids run wild and free. Amenities include a restaurant, snack bar and a cybercafé.QJ-6, Triglavska 17, tel. +386 (0)8 200 40 80, www.vodni-park-bohinj.si. Open 09:00 - 21:00.

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Where to eat Most visitors to Bohinj end up eating the majority of their meals at their hotel or guesthouse (which is usually not a bad option), but for those who wish to venture out

Bohinj in search of sustenance there are a handful of eateries in the villages around the lake, with the most options in Ribčev Laz at the lake’s southwest corner.

Don Andro A small part of Italy in the heart of the Julian Alps! It’s a pleasure to eat in this fine but simple restaurant where they prepare large and satisfying pizzas of all varieties.

Be aware that a small pizza is actually sufficient enough for two to share, while a large is just ridiculous. The service is top-notch with staff speaking excellent English.

Other dishes worth trying are the pastas, salads and delicious deserts. It’s a hit with both the locals and tourists who are staying in the village of Ukanc for good reason.

QU-7, Ukanc 20, tel. +386 (0)5 995 57 87/+386 (0)41 600 056, info@donandro.si, www.donandro.si. Open 12:00 - 22:00. AVBXS

Events Bohinj Fishing Festival More of a venue for fly fishing enthusiasts to socialise, share experiences and of course hone their crafts than a rigidly organised event per se, nevertheless Bohinj’s annual fishing festival has become an increasingly popular event on the calendar, taking place each year at the end of September and beginning of October. The programme generally consists of days spent fishing on one of several rivers in or near Bohinj (namely the Sava Bohinjska, Soča, Idrijca and Savinja), with nights devoted to various fishing-related films, videos, lectures and presentations, with a large festive cultural event (ie party) on the final night.

QHotel Tripič, Triglavska 13, www.bohinj.si.

Bohinj Hiking Festival Bohinj has been a popular destination for hikers for centuries, so it’s no surprise that it is home to one of Slovenia’s largest hiking events - the so-called Days of Hiking.

Taking place in September and October each year, the event aims to promote the area’s rich hiking tradition and potential as a world class hiking destination, and is comprised of three parts: Recreation, which includes guided tours along various paths, trails and themed trips; Competition, with several sports events held in cooperation with Slovene hiking societies; and Social activities, including concerts, exhibitions, lectures and hiking-related workshops.Qtel. +386 (0)4 574 75 90/+386 (0)31 557 124, info@bohinj.si, www.bohinj.si.

International Alpine Flower Festival The breathtaking beauty of Bohinj’s alpine scenery is well-known, with images of rocky peaks, rural farms, abundant wildlife and of course the majestic lake itself gracing the covers of various books, brochures and family photo albums. However, the region also boasts an incredible botanical richness, which has fascinated visitors long before the railway brought a spike in tourist 38 Bled In Your Pocket

arrivals more than a century ago. In fact, as far back as the mid-18th century foreigners were penning odes to Bohinj’s diverse floral beauty, such as the scientist, traveller and explorer Balthazar Hacquet, who was so in love with the region that he not only wrote a three-volume tome about the flora here, but also yearned to return and spend the rest of his life as a shepherd.

In celebration of Bohinj’s unique floral environment, there is a two-week long International Flower Festival at the end of May and beginning of June each year, with a veritable bouquet of events and activities taking place across the entire region, including exhibitions, guided excursions, workshops, lectures, concerts, open-air markets and much more.QVarious Venues, www.bohinj.si.

Kravji Bal The summer season in Slovenia’s alpine region officially ends in mid-September with one of the country’s most unique, if lesser known, festivals: the annual Kravji Bal, or traditional Cow Ball. Held in Bohinj since 1954, the event celebrates the return of local shepherds and their cattle to the valley after a summer of grazing high up in the pastures of the Julian Alps.

The festivities kick off on Friday evening with tours of Bohinj’s local dairies and regional museum, followed by a night of folklore performances, village skits and traditional music in the village of Stara Fužine in Triglav National Park. Of course plenty of cheese and butter will be on hand for tasting. On Sunday the main event takes place in the village of Ukanc when the shepherds and cows make their triumphant return, much to the delight of the thousands of onlookers. The all-day party begins in the morning with folk music, brass bands, an accordion orchestra, folklore performances and all manner of other costumed revellers competing for the eyes and ears of the crowd.QBohinj Tourist Association, Ribčev Laz 48, tel. +386 (0)4 574 60 10, fax +386 (0)4 572 33 30, info@bohinj-info.com, kravjibal.bohinj-info.com. bled.inyourpocket.com

Tourist information Bohinj Guest Card If you are spending more than a couple of hours in Bohinj, and let’s face it you should be, then you might want to consider getting a Bohinj Guest Card (family cards available). The card entitles visitors to great discounts at heaps of places around Bohinj - save 15% off bicycle and canoe hire; 50% off admission to the impressive Mostnica Korita; get discounted food and drinks plus much much more.

You can also purchase a card that entitles free parking in Bohinj.Qwww.bohinj.si.

TIC - Bohinj Tourist Office As well as offering helpful advice to visitors the Bohinj Tourism Information Centre in Ribčev Laz also offers a wide range of local and Slovene souvenirs and gifts - perhaps a miniature ‘Zlatorog’ (mythical gold horned buck) or a chunk of delicious Bohinj cheese.

QY-7, Ribčev Laz 48, tel. +386 (0)4574 60 10, fax +386 (0)4572 33 30, info@bohinj-info.com, www.bohinjinfo.com. Open Mon-Sat 08:00-18:00, Sun & holidays 09:00-15:00. In July-Aug 08:00-20:00 and 08:0018:00. In Nov-Dec 09:00-17:00 and 09:00-15:00.

Gostilna Mihovc This authentic family-run restaurant has been serving up delicious local fare for more than a century. Located in the centre of Stara Fužina, the restaurant is housed in a traditional old Gorenjska-style house, the interior has the same rustic feeling - during winter grab a table besides the central hearth whilst in summer the courtyard is the place to be. The menu features a wide range of tasty local specialties and the lunch menus are great value.QStara Fužina 118, tel. +386 (0)5 922 67 86/+386 (0)51 899 111, info@gostilna-mihovc.si, www.gostilna-mihovc. si. Open 09:00 - 23:00. TILB Gostilna Pri Hrvatu Located in the pretty little village of Srednja Vas, this long-running eatery has been preparing fine traditional

Restaurant PRI HRVATU 100 years of tradion Srednja vas v Bohinju 76 + 386 (04) 572 36 70 +386 (0) 31 234 300 Slovenian dishes for over 20 years now. The menu is frequently freshened up, so don’t be afraid to ask your waiter what the current specials are. The recommendation is never less than great. A popular social point for the older folks in the village, it also has a new terrace, new parking and a great little games room for the kids.QSrednja Vas 76, tel. +386 (0)4 572 36 70/+386 (0)31 234 300. Open 10:00 - 23:00. Closed Tue. TULGB Gostilna Rupa Known amongst the locals as one of the best places to eat between Bled and Lake Bohinj, we try to drop by the family-run Rupa every time we’re in the area. The awardwinning kitchen turns out some truly tasty dishes - our favourites include the deer medallions, grilled asparagus with gorgonzola and the various schnitzels - and the splendid views across the valley seem to make everything taste even better. Located in the tiny village of Srednja Vas, if you take the road between Jereka and Stara Fužina you can’t miss it.QSrednja Vas 87, tel. +386 (0)4 572 34 01, www.apartmajikatrnjek.com/rupa. Open 10:00 - 24:00.

Closed Mon. TAILB Gostilna Tripič A top dining destination for both locals and visitors, the Tripič inn is conveniently located in the centre of Bohinjska Bistrica, and during the warmer months the large summer terrace is sure to be buzzing with happy diners. The menu features a wide selection of hearty traditional Bohinj cuisine, such as veal stew with buckwheat and grilled home-

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Bohinj

Bohinj campers and caravans where you can find a range of fascinating on-site activities such as tennis, badminton, volleyball, and table-tennis, and there’s also a large sports hall and aqua park the immediate vicinity. The camp’s excellent set of amenities include a WiFi internet access point, bars and restaurants, a supermarket, bakery, health centre, pharmacy, laundry service, bank and post office.QH-6, Triglavska 60, tel. +386 (0)4 572 17 02, fax +386 (0)4 572 33 30, info@camp-danica.si, www.camp-danica.si. €6.4-12.6 per person. TA6ULEKXCW JeZerO This hotel scores top marks in location, being right up on the banks of Lake Bohinj and within easy access to venues in the town centre. The rooms are large with reasonably comfortable furnishings, and the views from the balconies come no better than here. It’s a good option for families, who can make use of its indoor swimming pools, sauna, mini golf, gym facilities, restaurant and café bar. Overall, it strikes a good balance between comfort and practicality.QY-7, Ribčev Laz 51, tel. +386 (0)4 572 91 00, fax +386 (0)4 572 90 39, hotel.jezero@cc-line.si, www.bohinj.si. 71 rooms (singles €55-75, doubles €90-160, suites €120-160).

PTJHA6UFLEBKDXCW hhhh Tripič Providing warm and welcoming accommodation in Bohinj for nearly four decades, the family-run Tripič

Even stormy days are beautiful in Bohinj

made sausages with black pudding and turnips, while house specialties include the Tripič platter, turkey steak in cream sauce with fruit and of course fresh Bohinj trout all of which are served in sizeable portions. Stop by from 12:00 to 16:00 for the good value daily set menus.QI-7, Triglavska 13, tel. +386 (0)4 828 01 20, fax +386 (0)4 828 01 24, info@hotel-tripic.si, www.hotel-bohinj.si. Open 08:00 - 23:00. PTJAULEGBKX Gostišče Danica Located at the entrance to the camping grounds one might dismiss this place as a tourist trap but looks can be deceiving and behind Danica’s modest appearance is a fine restaurant.

As well as an outstanding à la carte menu, the restaurant offers excellent daily specials and an wide range of Slovene wines. To cap it off the service is friendly and the prices are very reasonable - it makes for a very nice camp dinner indeed.QTriglavska 60, Bohinjska Bistrica, tel. +386 (0)4 575 16 19, info@camp-danica.si, www.camp-danica.si. Open Wed-Sun 11:00-22:00. During summer 08:00-23:00 daily.

Where to stay Along the lake and in the surrounding villages and mountainside, Bohinj offers an impressive number of quality accommodation options, from the 5-star Bohinj Park Eco Hotel, to a hostel and countless smaller family places, as well as two good campsites for those who want to stay as close to nature as possible.

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apartments and restaurant

+386 5 995 57 87 / Ukanc 20, 4265 Bohinjsko jezero info@donandro.si / www.donandro.si

hotel can be found right in centre of Bohinjska Bistrica and offers a total of 17 spacious rooms, including many suites and family rooms. The friendly service and topnotch facilities were recognised with the Golden Award from the town in 2010, but even more meaningful are the countless glowing comments left in their guestbook by visitors from around the world - many of whom become familiar faces on return trips. Additional offers include a 20% discount at Bohinj Aquapark just across the street and half-board at the excellent restaurant for only €5.QI-7, Triglavska 13, Bohinjska Bistrica, tel. +386 (0)4 828 01 20, info@hotel-tripic.si, www.hotelbohinj.si. 17 rooms (singles €47-62, doubles €64-96).

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Bohinj Park ECO Bohinj Park is the first certified ECO hotel in Slovenia. During the colder months there is now need to leave the premises at all, with a complete resort at your very fingertips! The hotel offers exceptional comfort in all its rooms and suites, as well as a classy restaurant and bar. There are wellness and spa facilities in the hotel itself or you can pop over to the AquaPark for even more health programmes. Another fabulous amenity is a Bowling Centre which includes 5 professional bowling lanes - lots of fun awaiting the whole family.QJ-6/7, Triglavska 17, Bohinjska Bistrica, tel. +386 (0)8 200 40 00, info@2864.si, www. bohinj-park-hotel.si. 102 rooms, 8 suites. PTHAR� UIFLGBKCW hhhhh Don Andro The owners of this place are superbly friendly, and the apartments come in a mix of traditional Slovene and alpine style elements topped up with completely modern conveniences: satellite TV, wireless internet, a hairdryer, a safe, fridge, microwave oven and a DVD player.QU-7, Ukanc 20, tel. +386 (0)5 995 57 87/+386 (0)41 600 056, apartmaji@donandro.si, www.donandro.si. 6 appartments €45-75. RLBKW hhh Camp Danica The area around the mighty Triglav range is a fantastic spot for camp lovers, being directly at the foot of nature and adventure. The camp is found just outside Bohinjska Bistrica and can accommodate over 800 guests in tents, bled.inyourpocket.com

Hotel Tripič, run by family Tripič since 1986 Double rooms and duplex family rooms Restaurant Tripič with pizzeria Free internet, free big private parking Fly-fishing info, hiking info, cycling info Close to bus and train station Open all year www.hotel-bohinj.si Hotel Tripič, Triglavska cesta 13 4264 Bohinjska Bistrica facebook.com/bled.inyourpocket

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Radovljica

Radovljica first floor, with sweeping views of the mountains in the distance it is a popular venues for weddings, concerts and other events.QLinhartov Trg 1, tel. +386 (0)4 531 5112, info@radolca.si, www.radolca.si.

Radovljica Municipality Museums Under the auspices of the Institute of Radovljica Municipality Museums, there are five separate historical museums. In the centre of Radovljica, is the Radovljica Municipal Museum with a permanent exhibition of the first Slovene playwright, historian and pedagogue Anton Tomaž Linhart (1756-1795), the Museum of Apiculture which presents, among other things, this unique tradition of Slovene folk culture, and the Šivec House Art Gallery with a rich collection of book illustrations and monthly exhibitions. Eleven kilometres south of Radovljica, in Kropa, is the Iron Forging Museum, which recreates the town’s hundred-year-old tradition of iron work.

Tourist information

Named for an 18th-century playwright, Linhart Square is one of the most picture-perfect public spaces in Slovenia

Radovljica, or Radol’ca as it is more affectionately known, may not be as well-known as nearby Bled, but it boasts a wide range of sights and activities, and also offers something that its more famous neighbour simply can’t: peace, quiet and a relaxing medieval town atmosphere.

An administrative centre since the 16th century, today the municipality of Radovljica comprises some four dozen individual settlements and nearly 20,000 people. At the centre of it all, and of most interest to tourists, is the picturesque old town situated on a hilltop overlooking the Dežela plain to the east and the Sava river valley to the west, with perfect views of the Julian Alps dominating the background in seemingly all directions.

The compact city centre is a veritable open air museum of beautifully restored buildings, narrow sloping streets and pleasant sidewalk cafés. The wider area is home to countless hiking and cycling paths, some great accommodation options (including an award-winning campsite, a newly built tourist farm and several old town guest houses), an airport offering scenic flights and the Bled-Lesce train station. All of this, plus the genuinely welcoming spirit of its residents, should lead many visitors to consider choosing Radol’ca as their base for the region and making Bled a day trip, rather than vice versa.

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WHAT TO SEE Linhart Square (Linhartov Trg) The town’s main square is one of the best-preserved medieval squares in Slovenia, and home to the majority of its sights, the tourist information office, several cafés and even a couple of accommodation options. Named for Anton Tomaž Linhart, an 18th-century playwright, historian and Radovljica’s most famous son, who among other achievements penned the first Slovene comedy, the square is lined with historic buildings dating from the 15th to 19th centuries and is a veritable open air museum of different architectural styles. It was renovated and turned into a pedestrian-only zone a couple of years ago.

Radovljica Mansion Originally built by the wealthy Counts of Ortenburg in the middle of the 15th-century in what was then a small German settlement, nowadays Radovljica Mansion dominates the upper section of Linhart Square and is one of the centres of cultural life in the region. Expanded and renovated over the centuries, much of its appearance dates from the mid-17th century, while the High Baroque façade was added in the early 18th century. In 2002, the premises were completely restored and refurbished with locally sourced materials, and it is now home to part of the permanent collection of the Municipal Museum of Radovljica and the Apiculture Museum. However, the mansion’s single most famous element is likely the glorious Baroque Hall on the bled.inyourpocket.com

Hop-On Hop-Off Radol’ca While the hop-on, hop-off tourist bus concept is a familiar sight in most of the world’s major cities, it’s not often that you see such a thing in rural areas and small towns. However, Radovljica’s forward thinking tourist office has realised that this is the perfect way for visitors to discover some of the region’s hidden corners and off the beaten path venues. Operating from the beginning of July till the end of August, every Tuesday the bus makes six circular journeys along a route covering Bled, Radovljica, Begunje, Podvin and Brezje, before returning to Bled via Radovljica, taking in all the sights along the way, while on Thursdays the route is Bled, Radovljica, Kamna Gorica and Kropa. Special guided tours and other activities can also be arranged in advance. For more info and full programme see the website of Tourism Radovljica.QLinhartov Trg 9, tel. +386 (0)4 531 51 12/+386 (0)40 460 675, info@ radolca.si, www.radolca.si. All day tickets are €5 for adults, free for children under 10.

TIC Radovljica Radovljica’s tourist information centre can be conveniently found near the main entrance to Linhart Square.

Located on the ground floor of the Mrak House, the office provides a whole host of information and services for the town, municipality and entire Gorenjska region, including accommodation, excursions, maps, tickets and free internet. It also has a wide selection of typical Slovene souvenirs, as well as products made under its own brand, such as honey and homemade chocolate pralines with traditional potica cake filling. Free guided tours of the old town depart from here every Tuesday throughout the year at 10:00.QLinhartov Trg 9, tel. +386 (0)4 531 51 12/+386 (0)40 460 675, info@ radolca.si, www.radolca.si. Open every day 09:0018:00 in summer, 10:00-16:00 in winter. facebook.com/bled.inyourpocket

Events Radovljica Festival Radovljica has been a top destination for early music enthusiasts for more than 30 years, as each August the town hosts two weeks of concerts by top musicians from around world, making it the longest running festival of its kind in the country. Performances are held in the magnificent Baroque Hall at Radovljica Mansion as well as in the Church of St Peter nearby, and each year at least one concert usually also takes place at the Church of the Annunciation in the town of Veselovo near Kranj, which boasts one of the finest pipe organs in Slovenia. In addition to the formal early music concerts, the diverse festival programme also includes contemporary music, theatre and dance performances. During the events there is a free festival bus that brings guests to Radovljica from Kranj and Ljubljana.QRadovljica Early Music Society, Linhartov Trg 1, tel. +386 (0)4 531 22 91, info@radolca.si, www.festival-radovljica.si.

And last but not least, some seven kilometres to the north of Radovljica, in Begunje na Gorenjskem, one can visit the Museum of Hostages, a memorial to the victims of Nazi terror during the Second World War. See the institute’s English language website for directions, opening times and admission fees.QLinhartov Trg 1, tel. +386 (0)4 532 05 20, fax +386 (0)4 532 05 24, mro@siol. net, www.muzeji-radovljica.si.

Around Radovljica Beekeeping Centre (Čebelarski RazvojnoIzobraževalni Center Gorenjske) If you’re like most visitors to Slovenia you have a vague understanding that the country is famous for its traditional beekeeping practices and of course its honey, and you may have even seen some painted beehive panels for sale in a gift shop, but you’re not sure where to go to see a comprehensive presentation of this fascinating field - at least this is the feeling we once had.

However, with the opening of the Beekeeping Centre (or as it is officially called, the Beekeeping Development and Training Centre of Gorenjska) in Radovljica in 2012, all the education, development, demonstration and promotional activities related to beekeeping that you could possibly imagine can be found in the same place. Learn about the long history of beekeeping and see how honey gets from the flower to the jar, and is nowadays used for a diverse range of purposes in addition to sweetening your tea.

For most people the highlight of any visit will be tasting the different varieties of honey, but many other activities, workshops and short trips can be arranged with advanced notice. Definitely one of the sweetest destinations in Slovenia!QRožna Dolina 50a, Lesce, tel. +386 (0)31 628 499, cebelarski.center@gmail.com, www.cricg.com.

Open Tues 09:00-16:00, and by prior arrangement for groups.

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Radovljica

Radovljica Wine Bars

Begunje

Vinoteka Sodček

Where to eat Lectar Inn Serving a selection of delicious Slovene cuisine and wines, Lectar is an impressive option for any occasion, event or business social. Folk music and dancing is arranged most evenings for some light entertainment for the restaurant’s guests. The restaurant is conveniently divided into several rooms, perfect for those coming in larger gatherings or families. A must see here is museum in the basement.QLinhartov Trg 2, tel. +386 (0)45 37 48 00, info@lectar.com, www.lectar.com.

Open 12:00-22:00. Closed Tues, except in July-Aug. PT� JAUG Vila Podvin Opened in 2013, Vila Podvin is set in a beautifully restored 14th-century castle some 2km east of Radovljica, and just a short drive north of Ljubljana. There are seven comfortable guests rooms and suites available, but the real highlight here is in the kitchen, which is run by one of Slovenia’s top chefs, Uroš Štefelin. Renowned for transforming traditional Slovene cuisine using modern culinary techniques, Štefelin prepares his own unique dishes with local ingredients and ample creativity. Already a popular venue for weddings, the Podvin estate also hosts other private events, offers horseback riding and cooking workshops, and even has a selection of souvenirs representing Slovenia’s rich cultural heritage.QMošnje 1, tel. +386 (0)41 747 636, info@vilapodvin.si, www.vilapodvin.si.

Open 12:00 - 22:00, Sun 12:00-17:00. Closed Mon. 44 Bled In Your Pocket

Sitting in the foothills of the spectacular Karavanke mountains and Kamnik Alps, Begunje na Gorenjskem, or just Begne to the locals, first appeared in the historical records around the 11th century. The village and surrounding countryside is rich in natural beauty and cultural heritage including a number of significant archaeological sites.

At the heart of Begunje is the impressive Katzenstein Mansion and gardens, the onetime home of the Lamberg Counts the building also served as a penitentiary for women before the Second World War and then as an infamous Gestapo prison during the war. The mansion is closed to the public apart from a wing which has been transformed into the Museum of Hostages, where displays detail the horrifying experiences of the more than 11,000 prisoners who suffered at the mansion.

Also make sure to have a stroll through the mansion’s gardens which house a magnificent pavilion designed by the famous Slovene architect, Jože Plečnik.

Before taking residence at Katzenstein the Lamberg Counts resided in the nearby Kamen ‘Stone’ Castle, which dates from the 12th century when it was built by the counts of Ortenburg. Located at the entrance of the picturesque Draga Valley, it is well worth visiting the imposing ruins of the castle and climbing the preserved Romanesque tower. Visiting the ruins is free though be careful as you enter and climb at your own risk. The Draga Valley is the starting point for some excellent hikes up into the mountains and there are many other great walks nearby including themed trails, check at tourist information centre for details.

In addition to its castles and mansions Begunje is also famous for being home to Elan, one of the world’s leading ski manufacturers, and Slavko Avsenik, a pioneer of popular Slovene folk music. You can purchase a set of award winning skis directly from the Elan factory and there are weekly folk music concerts held at the Avsenik Restaurant, or if you miss the show check out the fascinating little Avsenik Museum, which is found next to the restaurant or at the Avsenik Gallery on the opposite side of the road.

Vinoteka Sodček While the largely mountainous Gorenjska region is not one of the Slovenia’s major wine growing areas, that doesn’t mean that the locals are any bit less enthusiastic about drinking the stuff - as evidenced by this combination wine shop and bar at the edge of Radovljica’s main square. If you’d like a liquid souvenir there’s a fine selection of bottles from across Slovenia, and there’s also the option of filling up multi-litre jugs for those staying at a nearby campsite or apartment. However, our favourite option is the wine tasting menu, which includes five different wines along with a plate of Slovenian prosciutto, cheeses and olive oil for only €12.QLinhartov Trg 8, tel. +386 (0)4 531 59 71/+386 (0)41 678 408, info@vinoteka-sodcek.si, www. vinoteka-sodcek.si. Open 09:00 - 21:00. Closed Sun.

Hotels Leški Dvor Whilst not winning many points for style, Leški Dvor is a modest pension and restaurant in Lesce that plays a great hand in homemade food, in particular the great old Balkan grilled specialties. Twelve en-suite rooms are also available, all comfortable and simply furnished. The garden surroundings are also a pleasant venue for a drink from the well-stocked bar.QBegunjska 9, Lesce, tel. +386 (0)4 530 21 40, info@leski-dvor.com, www.leski-dvor.com.

Singles €40, doubles €60, triples €75.

Camping

GRILLED DISHES

at Pension Leški dvor Begunjska 9, Lesce +386 (0)4 5302 140 www.leski-dvor.com

Guest Houses & Pensions Turistično Naselje Dole Experience the tranquillity of nature at this newly built tourist village outside the settlement of Podnart. The nine chalets measure 70m², with a kitchen, living room and bathroom on the ground floor and with private balconies on the first floor. They are situated a symmetrically on a hillside, to provide the feeling of privacy and unobstructed views of the countryside. The location is ideal for taking advantage for the range of outdoor activities on offer, such as hiking, cycling, rafting and fishing - all of which can be arranged with advanced notice.QPoljšica 6, Podnart, tel. +386 (0)41 680 925, alenka.brazda@gmail.com, www. naselje-dole.si. 9 chalets €75-105, does not include breakfast or mandatory €20 cleaning fee. TAL

Camp Šobec Located in a thick pine forest, this camping ground with its very own lake is located on the road out of Bled towards Lesce. You can either pitch a tent or rent one of the bungalows that feel and smell pine-wood fresh during the summer time. Plenty of family-friendly activities can be organised, as well as just relaxing in the campsite itself. A supermarket, restaurant and laundry are located on the grounds.QŠobčeva 25, tel. +386 (0)45 35 37 00, fax +386 (0)45 35 37 01, sobec@siol.net, sobec.si. Tents/ person €8.10-13.80, bungalows €75-150.

Avsenik Gallery QBegunje 19, tel. +386 (0)4 530 73 00/+386(0)31 784 555, galerija@avsenik.com, www.avsenik.com.

Open 11:00-19:00 Wed & Fri, 11:00-17:00 Sat-Sun. Admission free.

Avsenik Museum QBegunje 22, tel. +386 (0)4 53 33 402, galerija@ avsenik.com, www.avsenik.com. Open Tue-Sat 10:00-17:00. Closed Mon. Admission €1.50.

slovenia.inyourpocket.com bled.inyourpocket.com

T: +386 (0)838 434 70 / info@vilapodvin.si Mošnje 1, Radovljica / www.vilapodvin.si / Vilapodvin

facebook.com/bled.inyourpocket

Learn all about the region’s apiculture heritage at the Beekeeping Centre in Lesce

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Brdo: Domain of Delights horses and picnics in the park to the the modern conference centre and of course tours of the castle itself. Recent renovations have bestowed the hotel with all the modern comforts, and the premises also include a fine restaurant, new wellness centre and two conference halls. The rooms and suites are a great value, while the 200m2 presidential suite is true to its name, having accommodated a certain US leader during his stay in Slovenia in 2001.QPredoslje 39, tel. +386 (0)4 260 1000, hotel.brdo@gov.si, www. brdo.si. 78 rooms. PHARLKD Fairy tale weddings are one of the many unique happenings at the Brdo Estate

One of the grandest estates in all of Slovenia, Brdo was originally built at the beginning of the 16th century by Habsburg nobleman Georg Egkh, and in the five centuries that followed it was home to several notable owners including the Zois family and the last monarchs of Serbia, the Karađorđević family. In more recently history, the estate served as one of the favourite residences of Yugoslav leader Josip Broz Tito and also famously hosted the first meeting between the then newly elected presidents of the United States and Russia, George Bush and Vladimir Putin. In 2008 a modern conference centre was built to accommodate the numerous high-level events that were held during Slovenia’s six month Presidency of the Council of the EU. The 500-hectare estate is administered by the Protocol Office of the Republic of Slovenia, and is the main venue for the state’s diplomatic events. However, for most of the year the well-kept grounds and it various facilities, including Brdo Castle itself, are open to the public. The site also includes the newly renovated four-star Hotel Brdo, which boasts a new wellness centre and fine restaurant.

Depending on visitors’ interests, the most impressive site at Brdo is either the magnificent grounds or Brdo Castle. In addition to its amazing location at the foothills of the Alps, the estate is criss-crossed with pathways that wind through pastures and gardens, around several lakes and through a large forested area. To traverse the park in style a carriage drawn by white Lipizzaner horses can be hired, as can small golf carts for those who prefer practicality to romance.

Meanwhile in the middle of it all sits the indelible castle.

Relatively modest in size and with an unembellished façade, the interior stands in stark contrast, as it was completely renovated and refurnished after WWII to reflect the tastes of Tito. It has been left more or less unchanged since his death in 1980, offering an intimate look into the life and times of one of the larger than life figures of the 20th century.

HOTEL Brdo Set just outside the entrance of the Brdo estate, Hotel Brdo offers unfettered access to all of the attractions within, from carriage rides drawn by famed white Lipizzaner 46 Bled In Your Pocket

Hotel Brdo Restaurant This newly renovated restaurant on the ground floor of Hotel Brdo (formerly Hotel Kokra) is a perfect place for lunch on a family trip to the adjacent Brdo Castle and Park.

Decidedly high-end in appearance, service and cuisine, the menu boasts surprisingly affordable prices, especially during lunch at the weekends. If you’re looking for a more romantic and/or relaxing getaway, you can combine your meal with a trip to the onsite wellness centre, or a horsedrawn carriage ride through the park grounds.QPredoslje 39, Kranj, tel. +386 (0)4 260 1000, +386 (0)4 260 1672, hotel.brdo@gov.si, www.brdo.si. Open 07:00 - 22:00.

PTALBW Strmol Castle Along the road connecting the villages of Češnjevek and Dvorje you will find the fairytale-like castle Strmol and its park. Of the twelve medieval castles in the Cerklje municipality this is the only one which survived the ravages of time and is still in tip-top condition, and is also one of the only castles in all of Slovenia that still includes its original furniture. Since 2004 it has been a registered object of the Republic of Slovenia and used as a guesthouse and conference site by the government.

First mentioned in literature in 1287, Strmol Castle is among the oldest in the area and in essence medieval, but the castle was renovated in Renaissance and Baroque style resulting in an interesting architectural mixture. The castle park has an aesthetically pleasing design dating from the 17th century. Currently it consists of an artificial lake, nonnative trees, grass fields and a fountain, with Dvorjanski hill in the background. Around the castle and the hill are some nice paths for enjoyable strolling, and it has recently opened as a luxury boutique hotel.QTel. +386 (0)4 260 15 01, brdo-eu@gov.si, www.brdo.si. Open for guided tours by prior arrangement.

Vrelec Brdo Wellness This wellness centre is one of the many facilities found at the magnificent Hotel Brdo, which is itself situated on the grounds of the Brdo Castle and Park - an historic estate just north of Kranj, some 30 minutes by car from Ljubljana.

Vrelec offers a wide variety of massages and body care treatments, as well as Finnish and Turkish saunas, a whirlpool and a cold pool for those who are daring enough to take an invigorating dip.QPredoslje 39, Kranj, tel. +386 (0)4 260 18 16, vrelec.brdo@gov.si, www.brdo.si. Open 16:00 - 22:00, Sat, Sun 15:00 - 22:00. bled.inyourpocket.com

Prestige created over Centuries F O R Y O U TO EN J O Y TO D AY

Awaiting your visit in the rays of sunshine, crowned by glorious past, and carrying the tradition into present. Venues where the finest encounters of today’s business world and diplomacy have found its home. Our unique castles and villas are located in Slovenia, the very heart of Europe. With years-long experience of organising protocol events of the highest level, conferences and celebrations – we remain a trusted partner, always ready and honoured to host your event with the outmost of care and the highest quality of services.

Castle Brdo at Brdo Estate Signed with the seal of excellence.

Strmol Castle

Experience beyond compare.

Vila Bled

Timeless elegance.

JGZ Brdo – State Protocol Services of the Republic of Slovenia, Predoslje 39, SI-4000 Kranj, Slovenia Tel: +386 4 260 10 00 Fax: +386 4 202 15 51 email: brdo-eu@gov.si www.brdo.si

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O FEstiv n t E a a

RESTAURANT BLED

July | BlED TPC

19th | R.I.C Roots intention crew | France

AugusT | BlED CAsTlE

STAURANT

KARINA RE

O cCARTNEY, SIR PAUL M

Okarina Restaurant Bled | Ljubljanska cesta 8 | Bled Open every day from 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm & 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm Saturday Sunday from 12:00 pm till 11:00 pm Reservation: +386 (4) 5741 458 www.okarina.com

1st | Fargana Qasimova Ensemble | Azerbadjan nd 2 | Catrin Finch and Seckou Keita | UK / Senegal 3rd | SVÄNG | Finnland

AugusT | BlED sPA PARK

6th | Barcelona Gipsy Klezmer Orchestra | Spain 7th | Ferus Mustafov | Macedonia 8th | Debademba | Burkina Faso 9th | Family Atlantica | Venezuela

www.festival-okarina.si

BLED CASTLE

+386 4 5729 782, www.bled-castle.si, blejski.grad@zkbled.si, FB: /BledCastle