Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary on Lake Bled (Slovenia)

Located on the only island in the middle of a lake in Slovenia, the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (Cerkev Marijinega Vnebovzetja) is considered one of the most beautiful and romantic places in the whole country. It is no coincidence that it is she who is chosen for the wedding by many couples who decided to tie the knot.

Bled is a world famous ski and balneological resort in Slovenia - every year it attracts thousands of holidaymakers and travelers from all over the world. Along with the castle of the same name, towering over the top of the mountain and most often depicted on postcards and tourist booklets, Bled has another, no less significant attraction: the active Catholic Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, standing in the middle of the lake on a small island.

Since pre-Christian times, local residents have endowed this island with sacred properties. Once upon a time there was a Slavic pagan sanctuary on it. In the 12th century, a Romanesque chapel was built in its place, which, alas, has not survived. In the 15th century, a Gothic church with a 50-meter bell tower was erected on the southern side of the island - in 1465 it was consecrated by the first bishop of Ljubljana.

In the 17th century, the Baroque style came to Europe. It was at this time that a baroque church was built on the highest point of the island. And since its small size did not allow to pray for services to everyone at the same time, soon the building was expanded, and, in addition, a bell tower with an iron top was added to it.

Both the church itself and the island in the middle of Lake Bled, on which it stands, are associated with many legends and traditions. Perhaps the most ancient of them is the one that was preserved for mankind by the Slovenian poet Franz Preshern. She says that the ancient Slavic sanctuary on the island was dedicated to the female deity of love, and the priest Staroslav and his daughter Bogomila served as its guardians. There is another legend, of a later origin, it tells about the widow of a local feudal lord killed by robbers. For the memorial ringing for her husband, she cast a large bell for the church, which stands on an island in the middle of the lake. However, when he was being carried by water, a storm broke out, and the ship, together with the crew and the bell, sank to the bottom. The widow, having learned this bitter news, went to Rome, where she became a monk in one of the monasteries. Soon her story became known to the Pope himself - and he ordered to cast a new bell and send it to Bled. This was done - and the bell, cast in 1634 with the blessing of the pontiff, became known in Eastern Europe as a wish-fulfilling one - everyone who rang it could be convinced of this.

The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary on Lake Bled no less beautiful than the old legends associated with it. Its four altars are finished in black and white marble, gilded and skillfully painted with frescoes. For the four centuries that the temple has stood on the island, traditions have developed here, which the locals strictly adhere to. One of them relates to the wedding - after it, the groom must go down a wide staircase of a hundred steps leading to the lake, thus demonstrating his readiness for the hardships of married life.

Today, as well as centuries ago, it is possible to get to the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary on the island only by water. Local boats, which are called 'wattle' here, are in great demand among pilgrims and tourists who want to visit the temple and ring the bell, supposedly fulfilling wishes. Renting a boat for two hours will cost 45 euros - not cheap, but along with a boat along with a wicker, a basket of food and a bottle of wine for a romantic meal is provided. The main thing is to choose a day for travel when the weather is good: old legends did not arise from scratch, and it is indeed often windy on the island. However, it is much easier and cheaper to get to the island by buying a ticket for a tourist boat - however, then sailing around the island, as if arising from an old fairy tale, alas, is not will succeed ... The most incurious visitors can admire the church in the middle of the lake from above - from the observation deck of the Bled castle.