The Municipality of Bled covers a total area of 189 square kilometres and has a population of 7.835 people (2019) living in 22 settlements. It lies in the north-west region of Slovenia, at the foot of the Julian Alps, between the Sava Bohinjka and Sava Dolinka Rivers. Set on a lake at an altitude of 475 metres, Bled is the largest town in the municipality, with 4.929 inhabitants.
The Municipality of Bled has fostered bilateral cultural exchanges with twin cities in Italy (Doberdob-Doberdo del Lago), the USA (Benbrook, Texas) and Croatia (Dubrovnik).
The Public Finances, Economy and Cultural Activities Department of Bled Municipality, in conjunction with associations and institutes, prepares development and financial programmes also for the field of culture, functioning as a co-ordinator and funder of infrastructure. The Bled, Bohinj and Radovljica Unions of Cultural Societies and the local branch of the Public Fund for Cultural Activities of the Republic of Slovenia (JSKD) facilitate the activities of around 20 cultural associations in Bled.
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Gallery
Aerial view of Bled Castle showing the layout of castle buildings around the upper and lower courtyards, connected with a staircase. The oldest part of the castle is the Romanesque entrance tower, other sections are Gothic and Renaissance styles.
Bled Castle contains a museum, wine cellar, restaurant, printing workshop and blacksmiths forge which are both in working order demonstrating historic processes, 2007
The fame of Bled Castle and the natural beauty of its setting was spread around the world by world travellers, including Janez Vajkard Valvasor in his book Glory of the Duchy of Carniola (1689)
View looking down into the lower courtyard, showing castle outbuildings at Bled Castle, the tower now holds the Castle printing works 2010
The church on Bled Island was built in its current form near the end of the 17th century. While it served as a pilgrim's destination for several centuries, nowadays it mostly serves as a very popular tourist spot.