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Attractions

Many attractions in a small area

An island of revived heritage

The sacral heritage of Bled Island illuminates this holy place of pilgrimage like an aureole. The island is much more than an image adorned by the famous staircase with the Church of the Assumption of Mary.

Visiting this piece of land in the middle of the lake will be like a holiday when you take the time to dedicate yourself to the sacred while learning about the exceptional heritage and legends.

The Wishing Bell

Numerous visitors who have always gone on pilgrimage to Bled Island are very fond of the Wishing Bell or Mary’s Bell. You can ring it in the Church of the Mother of God on the Lake. By ringing, you commend yourself to the Virgin Mary and give her your wishes, requests or thanks in faith.

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Lookout Bell Tower

The mighty freestanding bell tower is still Gothic in the lower part, the central part was built after the 1511 earthquake when it was severely damaged and only barely repaired with a wooden structure. The bell tower was thoroughly renovated in 1680. There are three bronze bells that ring in it. In 2013, the bell tower interior, including the mechanical tower clock with pendulum, was completely renovated. Since then, the freestanding bell tower was reopened to visitors, who can climb 52 meters up and descend the two-way staircase.

Southern Stone Staircase

On the southern side, the famous stone staircase from the 17th century gives the characteristic image of Bled Island. It consists of 99 wide steps made of breccia, a local conglomerate rock. The staircase was erected by Max Petschacher von und zum Schöffart in 1655. Next to the staircase, there is a votive chapel built in gratitude to the Mother of God.

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Provost’s House

The building was built to house a priest (prošta). The island was visited by many pilgrims who were able to sleep on the provost’s house premises, a large multi-floor building next to the church. Initially, the building had only the ground floor. It was first rebuilt in the early 17th century, while a top floor was added in 1787.

Today, the renovated Provost’s building houses an ethnological workshop, a sales gallery and a museum.

Sexton’s House

The Sexton’s House was built after 1685 for the family of the sexton, who took care of the island in the past. The building is located right next to the upper part of the stone staircase, which, today, together with its characteristic cassette facade, gives the recognizable island feature.

Potičnica (Potica House)

In the former garden, between the Sexton’s House and the Provost’s House a pavilion restaurant was set up in the 1960s, inside which Potičnica has been operating since 2012. As the name suggests, the place always smells of freshly baked festive Slovenian poticas.

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Hermitary

On the island’s northern side, behind the church, stands a small building called the Hermitary. It was built as a simple wooden dwelling for the hermit who lived and prayed on the island. In 1849, the building was renovated and turned into a hostel for pilgrims.

Northern Stone Staircase

A stone staircase was built next to the Hermitary in 1852. By descending the stairs along the little spring we reach the northern island port and the Lourdes chapel by the spring.

Chapel of
Our Lady of Lourdes

Along the northern coast of the island, there is the source of a spring that flows into the lake. Already Valvasor praises the water as excellent and so icy cold in summer that everyone wonders how a little spring can form on such a small island. The chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes is located  in this place. It was erected in 1888 by Prince Ernest Windisch-Graetz in gratitude to the Mother of God, as his blind wife could see again when she washed her eyes with the spring water.

Map Image
Church of the Mother of God on the Lake Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes Hermitary The Wishing Bell Lookout Bell Tower Provost’s House Potičnica (Potica House) Sexton’s House Southern Stone Staircase Northern Stone Staircase

Church of the Mother of God on the Lake

Pilgrims from all over the world have been coming to the patron saint, Mary, of the Church of the Mother of God, for centuries. They convey their wishes, thanks and requests to her through prayer.

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Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes

Along the northern coast of Bled Island, you will come across a spring source and discover the stone Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes.

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Hermitary

A building called the Hermitary was built to retreat into solitude and surrender to prayer. It was once inhabited by a hermit priest.

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The Wishing Bell

The ringing of the bell of desires is the voice of the soul, echoing in the sky above the lake. When you ring Mary's little bell, you will recommend yourself to the Mother of God, the Queen of Heaven.

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Lookout Bell Tower

It is worth climbing the church bell tower with the restored tower clock, as it offers beautiful views of the lake, the shore and the surrounding peaks.

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Provost’s House

Once upon a time, the building next to the church was meant for priests and the care of pilgrims. Today it houses a gallery and a museum where ethnological workshops take place.

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Potičnica (Potica House)

The Sexton’s house and the Provost’s House are connected by a building named Potičnica, as it always smells of freshly baked traditional Slovenian poticas.

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Sexton’s House

Today, there is room for protocol purposes in the ancient sexton’s house. It was once inhabited by a sexton and his family, who took care of the island.

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Southern Stone Staircase

The impressive 99 steps climb up towards the central part of the island from the south. Climbing up the stairs is a metaphor for the way to God.

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Northern Stone Staircase

You can reach the northern island port by descending a small stone staircase. An island spring bubbles up beside it.

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Discover all the attractions

Images of Time

Bled Island’s legends and history

The rich history has given birth to legends and created a diverse Bled Island cultural heritage that since 1999 has been declared a cultural monument of national importance.

Legends
History
Cultural heritage

Photo gallery

All Bled Island’s reflections
Bled Island’s picturesqueness is an inspiration in every season.

Pilgrims have been climbing the famous stone steps on the God's way to the Mother of God on the Lake for more than three centuries.

Pletna boats under the southern staircase. It is best to sail across the lake in a traditional Bled vessel, as nothing disturbs the island peace.

Bled’s jewel is illuminated by a light piercing the dark clouds.

Church of the Mother of God, with a freestanding bell tower and a statue of St. Mary Magdalene, the patroness of the pilgrimage.

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Visit us

Individually or with a guide

The day spent on Bled Island must be like a holiday that cheers up the heart and calms the soul.

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Contact
Bled island

Information, wedding ceremony and announcement of organized groups:
T: +386 4 576 79 79
F: +386 4 576 79 01
E: info@blejskiotok.si
Island fee, info, announcement of organized groups:
T: +386 4576 79 77

Potičnica Bled island

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

Hotel Stari Farovž

T: +386 70 865 738
E: hotel@blejskiotok.si

Sales gallery

T: +386 4576 79 78

Booking of liturgical services and Holy Mass

Orders online or in-person at the Parish of Bled office every Monday from 8.00 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. Possible additional dates: every day at 7.30 a.m. by prior arrangement with the Parish of Bled.

Bled Parish

DŠ: 95119159
TRR: IBAN SI56 0700 0000 0791 028 (GB d.d., Kranj)
E-mail: info@zupnija-bled.si

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Basic informations
Blejski otok, d.o.o.

Slovenski trg 1
4260 Bled
Slovenia

ID DDV: SI13782061
MŠ: 2039702000
TRR: IBAN SI56 0313 9100 0250 549 (SKB d.d.)

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