The story behind the famous Bled Island

Centuries ago, Bled Island was home to a pagan temple dedicated to Živa, Slavic goddess of life and fertility. The temple was guarded by a young woman named Bogomila, and her father. 

Beautiful Bogomila was in love with Črtomir, a heroic leader of pagan Slavs who fought against Christians. 

Bogomila is one of the characters from the poem ‘The Baptism at the Savica’ written by a famous Slovenian poet France Prešeren.

The poem ends with the defeat of the pagan Slavs who then converted to Christianity, including their leader Črtomir who was baptised by Savica Waterfall near Bohinj Lake.

While the love story between Bogomila and Črtomir is imaginary, the existence of the Slavic temple is not.

50 years ago, archaeologists found out that Bled Island was a home to a temple dating to the Early Medieval Ages! They concluded that it was very much possible that the pagan Slavs built the temple to worship their goddess of life and fertility.

Today a baroque church dedicated to Mary crowns the island. It stands on the site that was once occupied by an ancient church building which was often rebuilt and enlarged.

First visitors that came in larger numbers to the island were pilgrims during the 19th century to pray to Mary. They reached the island on pletna boats.

Pletna is a boat with a colourful roof typical for Lake Bled that is being operated by ‘pletnar’, a man who has inherited the right to row it.

If you wish to relive the journey of the first pilgrims to the island, get on one of the pletna boats, waiting by the lake-shore. One way journey with iconic pletna (that can carry up to 20 people at once) to the island takes around 15 minutes.

If you plan to take photos of Bled Island while on the pletna boat, I would suggest you to sit the closest to its bow.

When you arrive on the island, climb up the 99 baroque steps to reach the upper part of the island. However, if you count the steps, you will only come to 98, because the 99th step is hidden in the water!

While walking up the 99 steps (well, 98) that illustrate our everyday life with ups and downs, be aware of the fig tree on your left side.

The fig tree grows below the first building that you will see when climbing to the island’s upper part. The figs from that tree end up in potica, a Slovenian festive cake that they bake on the island.

If you wish to taste this festive cake that comes in different variations with different fillings, including walnut and poppy, you can do that in ‘Potičnica’.

Potičnica is a sweet and souvenir shop that is attached to the Sexton’s House. You can also have coffee or tea there, or treat yourself with a delicious ice-cream!

But before having sweet treats, take a look inside the charming church of Mary. Together with the separate bell tower, this Catholic church is the central feature of Bled Island. You can climb to the top of the bell tower and enjoy the view of Lake Bled and its surroundings.

Unlike the first pilgrims who came to the island’s church to pay tribute to Mary and pray for an abundant harvest, today’s visitors go there mostly for two reasons: either they will get married there or ring the wishing bell. 

Bled Island is nowadays a popular destination wedding location. It is possible to have Catholic, Protestant or even civil wedding ceremonies in the island’s church.

It is a custom that before they get married in St. Mary’s church, the groom carries the bride up the 99 steps that are situated on the southern part of the island.

As soon as you enter the island’s church, you will see a long rope hanging from the ceiling in the middle of the church. You need to pull the rope three times to ring the wishing bell.

The wishing bell from the island’s church that was cast at the beginning of the 16th century in Padua, Italy appears in one of the most popular legends.

You can read the Legend about the wishing bell here (scroll down to the paragraph entitled Ring the bell three times and make a wish).

Bled Island is covered with green trees and bushes. It is thus a pleasant place to have a walk, especially during warm summer months (June–August). 

However, that is also the time when the largest numbers of people visit the island. During those months it could be crowded there, so a bit of patience may help you cope with the waiting.

Besides the church and the bell tower, there are other historic buildings on the island. In front of them is a picturesque courtyard with wooden benches where you can sit and watch people pass by.

The island’s upper part is connected with the lower part with two stone staircases, the famous baroque staircase with 99 steps in the south and another, narrower one with fewer steps (78 steps), in the north of the island.

Just do not forget — the last pletna boat leaves the island for the lakeshore in the evening. Check the pletna schedule with one of the pletnars to make sure that you do not stay on the island overnight!

LOCATION: Bled Island (Blejski otok) lies on the western part of Lake Bled.

Bled Island on Lake Bled

GET ON: You may go to Bled Island either by a traditional pletna boat, electric boat (hydrobus) or rent a boat.

PLETNA BOAT: Buy a return ticket directly from pletnar (around 14 EUR, discounts available (1 EUR) for holders of the Julian Alps Card). There are various spots by the lake from where you can get into pletna boat. Those are: Bled Mlino (the main dock in the settlement of Mlino), a dock below Villa Bled and a dock next to Casino Bled (Kazina).

ELECTRIC BOAT – HYDROBUS: Electric boat runs at fixed hours from the dock called Kazina that lies below Café Park and Casino Bled. The name of the boat is ‘Črtomir‘ (who was a heroic leader of pagan Slavs featuring in a famous Slovene poem). Return ticket costs 12 EUR (holders of the Julian Alps Card pay 1 EUR less).

RENT A BOAT: You can rent a wooden boat for one hour or more and row to the island by yourself. You will find several agencies that rent out boats by the lakeshore.

GET AROUND: Bled Island measures around 2 acres and you can explore it on foot and walk around the island. The walking path runs by the lake, meaning you will have a great view while strolling around.

To reach St. Mary’s church and other attractions on the upper part of the island, you will need to climb up one of the two staircases. 

ADMISSION: 6 EUR for adults (for St. Mary’s church with the wishing bell and the bell tower). Discounts are available for holders of the Julian Alps Card.

VIEW OF BLED ISLAND: You can see Bled Island from different angles from the walking path that runs around Lake Bled.

To see the island from above, you will either have to walk to Bled Castle or climb one of the hills that rise above the lake, such as Ojstrica or Mala Osojnica.

VISITING IN WINTER: If you are not afraid of being cold while on a pletna boat, you can go to the island in winter (December–February) as well.

However, in winter months when the weather might be freezing, ice sometimes covers the lake. In that kind of conditions, it is not possible to go to the island, neither if there is strong wind. 

GEOCACHING: Geocachers will have some work to do when on Bled Island as two caches are hidden there.

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).