Fairytale Castles, Enchanting Lake Bled, and Underground Wonders in Slovenia

Our journey through Slovenia unveiled a country of stunning natural beauty and captivating history, starting with the iconic Lake Bled region. Our first stop was the majestic Bled Castle (Slovene: Blejski grad), a medieval fortress perched dramatically on a rock approximately 100 meters above the shimmering Lake Bled. The castle's history is extensive, with a Romanesque tower standing on the site as early as 1004, and various parts of the castle being added and modified over a remarkable period of 800 years. The castle's architecture is impressive, giving it an imposing yet almost fairytale-like appearance as it overlooks the lake. From the castle grounds, the views are absolutely wonderful, offering a breathtaking panoramic vista that encompasses the entire lake, the island in its center, the surrounding mountains, and the town of Bled nestled along the shore. There is a restaurant and a small café within the castle walls, providing the perfect spots to sit and soak in these incredible views.










Below the castle lies the true jewel of the region, Lake Bled, with its enchanting Bled Island gracing its center. This picturesque island is the only natural island in Slovenia, adding to its unique charm. The island is home to several buildings, the most prominent being the beautiful pilgrimage church dedicated to the Assumption of Mary (Cerkev Marijinega vnebovzetja), built in its current form near the end of the 17th century, its steeple a recognizable landmark from the shore. The island is steeped in legend. One of the most famous stories is related to a young widow named Poliksena who once lived at Bled Castle. In memory of her beloved husband, she had a bell cast for the chapel on the island. Tragically, during the transport of the bell, a terrible storm struck the boat, causing it to sink along with the crew and the bell, which to this day is said to ring from the depths of the lake. Following the widow's death, touched by her story, the Pope consecrated a new bell and sent it to Bled Island. It is said that whoever rings this bell in the church tower, thereby giving honor to the Virgin Mary, will have their wish come true – a tradition that draws many visitors who attempt to ring the bell.









Next, we traveled to Ljubljana, the charming capital city of Slovenia. Sometimes affectionately described as a "mini-Prague," Ljubljana shares some of the architectural beauty and atmospheric streets of its Czech counterpart but on a more compact and perhaps more intimate scale. The old town is a delightful blend of architectural styles, featuring beautiful Baroque, Renaissance, and Art Nouveau buildings, all watched over by a medieval castle perched on a hill above the city. The atmosphere in Ljubljana is notably relaxed and possesses a youthful vibe, with an abundance of outdoor cafes lining the riverbanks and squares, creating a lively and inviting social scene. We found the city's cuisine and wines to be surprisingly good – and affordably priced, offering delicious local flavors without breaking the bank.









Before leaving Slovenia, we ventured underground to explore the magnificent Postojna Cave (Slovene: Postojnska jama). This is an extensive 20,570-meter long karst cave system, renowned as the largest cave in the 'classic karst' region and the most visited show cave in Europe. The experience of exploring Postojna Cave is unique from the start. Visitors cover the initial 4 kilometers by an electric train that was originally laid in the cave back in 1872, a historical railway journey into the depths of the earth. The train ride takes you as far as the impressive Big Mountain (Velika Gora) cavern. As you descend into the cave, the temperature drops significantly; it's extremely cold inside, with a constant temperature of between 8°C and 10°C and a humidity of 95%, so dressing warmly is essential.








Upon reaching the Big Mountain cavern, visitors disembark the train and are guided through the rest of the accessible cave system on foot. We gathered under one of the five signs identifying the language of the tour (we opted for the English version), and a knowledgeable guide escorted us through a series of breathtaking halls, galleries, and caverns. These are primarily dry galleries, adorned with a vast array of stunning white stalactites. These formations take on incredible shapes, resembling delicate needles, enormous icicles, and even fragile 'spaghetti' strands hanging from the ceiling. From the vastness of the Velika Gora cavern, the path continues across the Russian Bridge, a poignant structure built by Russian prisoners of war in 1916. The journey then leads through the 500-meter-long Beautiful Caves (Lepe Jame), which are filled with particularly wonderful ribbon-shaped stalactites and stalagmites. These formations are ancient, estimated to be two million years old, a testament to the incredibly slow process of their creation (it's said to take 30 years to produce just 1 millimeter of stalactite). The tour continues south through the Winter Hall (Zimska Dvorana), passing by the remarkable Diamond Stalagmite and the imposing Pillar Column, both of which have become iconic symbols of the cave system.








The tour culminates in the extraordinary Concert Hall (Koncertna Dvorana), the largest cavern in the cave system. This immense space is so vast that it can accommodate up to 10,000 people for musical performances, its natural acoustics providing a unique venue. At the end of the guided tour, a final fascinating sight awaits. In a tank, we saw a truly bizarre pink creature – the Proteus anguinus, often referred to as the unique 'human fish'. This blind amphibian is perfectly adapted to life in the dark cave environment and is a remarkable example of evolutionary biology. Exploring the vast chambers and intricate formations of Postojna Cave, riding the historic train, and encountering its unique inhabitant is a truly unforgettable underground adventure, highlighting the hidden wonders beneath Slovenia's surface.