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Cliff with 1000 years old Bled Castle

by petra September 19, 2021
cliff with bled castle

A typical postcard sent from Bled would show Lake Bled with the island, and a white cliff with Bled Castle rising above them.

From the top of the cliff,  you can enjoy the view of the lake and its surroundings and take panoramic photos.

Top tourist attractions
Top tourist attractions
Distance from Lake Bled
By Lake Bled
Family-friendly places
Family-friendly
Accessibility
Not wheelchair accessible
Entrance fee
Admission (for Bled Castle)

QUICK FACTS

Top tourist attractions ⋆ By Lake Bled ⋆ Family-friendly ⋆ Not wheelchair accessible ⋆ Admission 

The cliff after which the town got its name

When strolling by Lake Bled, you can see the white cliff with the castle very well. Actually, it is visible from many corners of Bled and even surrounding villages. That is why it is not surprising that the town got its name after it.

The town of Bled was once known as Veldes which was derived from the word fels, meaning cliff in German. Why German, you might ask.

Bled was under the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the year of 1918, and German was one of the two official languages of the empire.

View of the cliff from the walking path
View of the cliff with the castle from the walking path that runs around Lake Bled. It takes one hour and 15 minutes to walk around.

The cliff has been home to the medieval castle for hundreds of years. From Bled Castle that is probably the oldest castle in Slovenia you can admire the view of Lake Bled from above.

At the castle – that is a popular tourist and wedding destination today – you can also learn about the history of Bled (in the castle’s museum). Or you can dine at a high-end restaurant, try Slovenian wine, taste Slovenian honey and buy honey products, have your name printed on an old press, and so on.

On the lower courtyard of Bled Castle.
On the lower courtyard of Bled Castle.

One of the viewpoints over Lake Bled

The cliff with Bled Castle is one of several viewpoints from which you will see the lake with the island from a bird’s eye view. However, you will need to enter the castle to be able to truly embrace the beauty of the scenery below.

View of Lake Bled from the cliff with bled castle
Lake Bled with the island as seen from the castle. Behind them are a couple of hills (Ojstrica, Mala Osojnica) that you can climb to enjoy the view across the lake.

If you would like to explore other viewpoints and do not mind hiking for around half an hour or so, then you can climb one of the hills that are scattered around the lake (Straža, Ojstrica or Mala Osojnica).

Visiting the old village beneath the cliff

Many years ago, that is in the Middle Ages, people lived on the cliff. They built their homes there because the cliff offered them good protection from invaders.

When the cliff’s inhabitants did not feel endangered any more, they started to settle in the area beneath the cliff. Soon they formed a village called Grad that literally translates to Castle.

cliff with bled castle
The cliff offered a good shelter during the turbulent times.
The settlement of Grad
The settlement of Grad below the castle.

The settlement of Grad still exists today and you may take a walk there after getting back from the cliff. It is one of the oldest settlements within Bled, having a plenty of charm.

– PRACTICAL INFORMATION –

LOCATION: The cliff with Bled Castle rises above the northern side of Lake Bled and is easily accessible on foot from Bled’s centre. If you decide to walk around Lake Bled, you can walk up to the cliff just in the meanwhile. Look for the walking paths in the forest below the cliff going up.

The cliff with Bled Castle

WALKING PATHS: The walking paths (there are several) leading from above Lake Bled to Bled Castle are well-arranged and mostly shaded. Along the paths, there are wooden benches where you can rest if you feel the need.

You will need approximately 15–20 minutes to get to the castle’s entrance. Just before reaching the top, there are some steps to conquer.

One of the walking paths running towards the castle starts at Slovenian Square (Slovenski trg), close to St. Martin’s church that lies below the castle. That is actually the oldest path to the castle.

View of St. Martin's church from Bled Castle
Next to the church you will find the oldest path that leads up to the castle.

WALKING PATH IN PICTURES (starting above Lake Bled)

Path going towards Bled Castle
Walking towards Bled Castle
Steps on the way to Bled Castle
Cobbled path to Bled Castle
At Bled Castle
The view from the cliff with Bled Castle

BLED CASTLE: There is admission for the castle (13 EUR; discount is available for children, students, groups and the Julian Alps Card holders). The castle is open every day while the opening hours vary according to the time of the year.

CARS AND PARKING: You can drive to Bled Castle. The road for cars and buses (Grajska cesta) runs on the other side of the cliff than the walking paths. That means that you will not be disturbed by the traffic while walking up to the castle from above Lake Bled.

Right below the castle there is a parking area where you can leave your car.

Would you like to explore Lake Bled and nearby places in the Julian Alps with me? Follow my day-to-day on Instagram (@bledoscope) and Twitter (@bledoscope).

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Hello! I'm Petra, and I have lived in Bled for most of my life. After spending time in Norway, Macedonia, Hungary and Spain, I have settled in my home country, rediscovering the beauty of Lake Bled. Read more

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