BLED, LAKE

Serbo-Croatian Bledsko Jezero glacial lake in the extreme northwestern region of Slovenia, situated northwest of Ljubljana. A summer health and holiday resort and a winter sports centre at the foot of the Julian Alps, 1,558 ft (475 m) above sea level, it has good road and rail connections and summer air service. Nearby is Triglav National Park and other mountains in the Julian Alps and Karavanke. The mild subalpine climate affords a long summer season for bathing. The town of Bled has historic landmarks. On a small island in the lake is the Church of St. Maria, on which a Slavic pagan shrine stood until the 11th century. Bled castle stands atop a 460-ft cliff on the lakeshore.