Things to Do in Bled

Shaped over the millennia by the raging waters of the River Radovna, the Vintgar Gorge slices through 1.6 km (one mile) of the Borst and Hom hills in northwestern Slovenia. First discovered in 1891, the narrow, winding river gorge was then impenetrable thanks to the vertical erosion of the limestone rock, but two years later a sandy trail and wooden pathways were built along the canyon length to open up its awesome waterfalls, icy cold pools and boiling rapids to visitors as it repeatedly crosses the river. One man‐made spectacle to look out for while hiking through the canyon is the stone arch of the Bohinj railway bridge, constructed in 1906 and hanging 110 feet (33.5 meters) above the river, which has become a magnet for adrenaline‐fueled whitewater rafters. The trail ends at the impressive Sum waterfall – the highest in Slovenia and spewing 52.5 feet (16 meters) into a pool at the head of the gorge. From Sum, walkers can retrace their steps along the gorge or make a circular tour towards the east, walking over the peak of Hom, past the pilgrim church of St Catherine and on down to Bled.

At an elevation of more than 1600 meters, the Vrsic Pass is the highest mountain pass in Slovenia, crossing the eastern Julian Alps. Part of the Russian Road built for military use in the early 19th century, the pass connects Upper Carniola with the Trenta Valley. This includes a series of 50 numbered hairpin turns leading up to the pass. A Russian Orthodox chapel stands on the north side of the pass near hairpin 8 and a Russian cemetery can be found near hairpin 4. Both the chapel and cemetery honor the Russian prisoners of war who died in an avalanche while building the road. On the south side of the pass, a bronze monument honors Slovenian mountaineer and writer Julius Kugy.

Those wishing to stretch their legs along the way can park near the top of the pass and follow a footpath to a mountain hut. From there, the path leads up to a summit for panoramic views of the surrounding area. The route can be covered on foot in about 45 minutes.

Kozjak waterfall (‘Veliki Kozjak’ in Slovenian) is close to the village of Kobarid in the foothills of the Julian Alps in western Slovenia, close to the border with Italy. Access to the waterfall is along an undemanding and clearly signposted 20-minute trail overlooking the clear, turquoise waters of the Soča River, which is backed by lush alpine forest.

On its way down Mount Krnčica (7,028 ft (2,142 m)) to join the Soča, the Kozjak River flows through karst landscapes pockmarked with caves and throws itself over six limestone gorges. The lowest of these waterfalls is the spectacular Kozjak cascade, which plunges 50 ft (15-m) through a narrow ravine into a deep blue pool formed as the force of the water has eroded the cliffs around it into a hollow, rounded cavern. The falls are at their most impressive in spring after the snow melts and make a scenic swimming spot in summer; the river itself is a popular destination for kayakers, rafters and canyoners.

The Kozjak waterfall forms part of a circular walk that takes in all of the historic sights around Kobarid, including World War I bunkers and the Napoleon Bridge. This was built in 1750 and is so-named as Napoleon and his troops crossed it on their way to Predel Pass, where a battle took place against the Austrians in 1809.

While the romantic position of the lovely Baroque Church of the Assumption on a minuscule mound in the middle of Lake Bled is enough to attract thousands of visitors to it each year – it is one of Slovenia’s most popular wedding venues – it is also feted thanks to its internal ornamentation, 177‐foot (54‐meter) tower and dedication to the Virgin Mary. Starting out as a pagan temple many years before the advent of Christianity, the church has at various times been a small, wooden structure and a single‐aisle Gothic church, which was consecrated by the Bishop of Ljubljana in 1465. The freestanding bell tower appeared later in the same century and the church was reconstructed yet again in 1685 in its present Baroque style, with a deliciously OTT gilt‐encrusted altar and black marble and wood‐carved pulpits contrasting keenly with its serene white and cream aisles. Two legends surround the church: that men must carry their partners up the 99 steps of the 15th‐century stone staircase leading up to its entrance to ensure marital happiness; and that ringing the wishing bell – which dates from 1534 – on the left of the altar makes wishes come true.