About The Church of the Mother of God on the Lake
The Church of the Mother of God on the Lake is a Catholic church on the Bled island in the middle of Lake Bled in northwestern Slovenia, less than an hour’s drive from the capital city of Ljubljana. It is the most photographed church in Slovenia and one of the most visited tourist attractions in the country, popular with both international tourists as well as Slovenians. It is a quiet, peaceful place surrounded by extraordinary natural beauty.
The church is situated on top of the ruins of an ancient temple, the ruins of which can be seen through glass panes on the floor. The church has a 52-meter tower and was built in its current form near the end of the 17th century. The view from the church bell-tower is worth the climb.
Photos of the Church of the Mother of God on the Lake
Enjoy this beautiful photo gallery with 10 high resolution photos of the Church of the Mother of God on the Lake on Bled Island, all taken by professional photographers!
The Church of the Mother of God on the Lake is the most recognisable symbol of the Bled island. (photo: Marco Coppo, Foto Video Coppo, Slovenia.info)
The Church of the Mother of God on the Lake is also known as the Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Mary, or Our Lady of the Lake, or The Church of Mary the Queen. (photo: Drazen Stader, Produkcija Studio, Slovenia.info)
The church on the Bled island is one of the world’s most beautiful and most frequently photographed churches. (photo: Marco Coppo, Foto Video Coppo, Slovenia.info)
The church has a 52-metre bell tower and there is a Baroque stairway with 99 steps leading from the lake up to the church and this dates from 1655. (photo: Vid Rotar, Mediaspeed, Slovenia.info)
The traditional transportation to Bled Island is by a wooden boat known as a Pletna which seats 20 people. It is free to visit the church but there’s a small fee of a few Euros to climb the bell tower. (photo: Vid Rotar, Mediaspeed, Slovenia.info)
Separate from the church itself, the Bell Tower is 52 meters high and contains one large and two small bells. (photo: Vid Rotar, Mediaspeed, Slovenia.info)
The Church of the Mother of God on the Lake is not just a pretty feature of Lake Bled, it’s also an interesting attraction to explore all on its own. (photo: Franci Ferjan, Slovenia.info)
You can see the church almost on every Lake Bled photo. (photo: Dean Dubokovic, Slovenia.info)
In the winter when Lake Bled freezes over, you can walk across the lake to the island and visit the church. (photo: Franci Ferjan, Slovenia.info)
The church looks amazing in every season throughout the year, but in the winter it’s especially spectacular. (photo: Franci Ferjan, Slovenia.info)
This church looks magical at night when lit up at night in the winter months. (photo: Iztok Medja, Slovenia.info)
 With an incredibly beautiful glacial lake surrounded by the peaks of the Slovenian Alps, an iconic church nestled in a tiny island in the middle of the lake and a medieval Gothic castle built on a 100-meter cliff overlooking the lake, Bled is possibly the most beautiful and remarkable Alpine resort in Europe. |
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 Overall Rating:  10/10 (Must-See)In Slovenia, there is a real place that looks like it came from the fairy tale world! That place is the beautiful Lake Bled, known for its stunning mountain-backed vistas, the iconic church located on a tiny island in the middle of the lake and the spectacular medieval Gothic castle built on a 130-meter cliff overlooking the lake. |
 Overall Rating: 10/10 (Must-See)When people say that a place is like something from a fairy tale, often they are exaggerating, but that is not the case with this charming little tear-shaped island in the middle of Lake Bled. The island has such an extraordinary beautiful setting that photographs of it are regularly found in travel magazines and it’s without a doubt the most recognizable place in Slovenia. |
 Overall Rating: 10/10 (Must-See)This stunningly picturesque gorge with turquoise water of the Radovna river and a spectacular waterfall at the far end is part of the Triglav National Park and is located just outside the northern side of Bled. It has been made into a huge attraction by the addition of walkways alongside and across the river. |
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 Overall Rating: 10/10 (Must-See)Above the incredibly beautiful glacial Lake Bled, on a mighty steep cliff rising 130 meters high, is the iconic Bled Castle. It is one of the most visited Slovene sights with over 300.000 annual guests. |
 Overall Rating: 10/10 (Must-See)Church of the Mother of God on the Lake, also known as the Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Mary, or The Church of Mary the Queen, or Our Lady of the Lake, is located on a a tiny, tear-shaped island in the middle of an incredibly beautiful Lake Bled. The church has such a beautiful setting that pictures of it are regularly found in travel magazines and on travel blogs and forums. |
 Overall Rating: 10/10 (Exceptional)Royal Bled Golf is the oldest and the largest golf course in Slovenia and one of those must play courses in Europe. The facility comprises the 18-hole King's Course and the 9-hole Lake's Course. The 18-hole King's Course is pretty challenging and plays host to several tournaments and other events during the year, while the 9-hole Lake's course is a bit easier option for those whose handicap is too high, or those with not-so-deep pockets. Club membership is invitation only, but both courses are regularly open to the general public with advanced booking. |
 Cuisine: Slovenian Located on the quiet side of Lake Bled, the restaurant has some of the most amazing views of the lake, church on the island, and Slovenian Alps. The food is outstanding with a varied choice on the menu to suit every taste. It’s exquisite fine dining but with quite big portions. OVERALL RATING: 10/10 (Exceptional) PRICES:  (Expensive) |
 Cuisine: Slovenian This famous restaurant is now under new management of the Jezersek family who serve modern interpretations of recipes written more than 70 years ago by their grandmother. The food is absolutely lovely - it's traditional Slovenian served in a superb fine dining style with lots of lovely touches. OVERALL RATING: 10/10 (Exceptional) PRICES: (Expensive) |
 Cuisine: International The restaurant is located in the very heart of Bled. It's a fine restaurant with a lovely terrace that has a breathtaking view of Lake Bled and Bled Island. The menu is varied with a good selection of meat, fish and pasta dishes. The food served is full of flavour and beautifully presented and yet is not too heavy on the pocket. OVERALL RATING: 10/10 (Exceptional) PRICES:  (Moderate) |
 Cuisine: Slovenian This is a lovely small restaurant that is opened only during the season (from May 1st till mid-October). The setting is charming in an open garden with lit candles all around the tables. The menu is surprisingly extensive for a small place and there's something for everyone. All the plates coming from the kitchen are a feast for the eyes. OVERALL RATING:  09/10 (Superb) PRICES: (Expensive) |
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| The accommodation options in Bled can be divided into six main categories: hotels, guest houses, B&Bs, apartments, farm stays and hostels. |
 Finding a hotel that suits your needs and fits your budget can be a hassle. Bled is a very touristic place with lots of hotels of varying standards, from ultra-luxurious where guests can indulge themselves in some exquisite spas to a nice choice of affordable 3-star hotels. Find out which hotels in Bled we recommend and why. |
 Bled guesthouses are definitely a nice, safe option for a place to stay as they are comfortable and homely with owners who take an interest in their guests. Many offer not only breakfast, but also lunch and dinner. There are quite a few wonderful guest houses in Bled, find out which one would best suit your needs, style and budget. |
 Bed and breakfasts are a cheap way of staying in Bled. In essence you get a room and usually also a private bathroom in someone's house, with breakfast included in the price. Find out which B&Bs in Bled we recommend and why. |
 Many local residents in Bled offer apartments for rent in their houses. Each apartment has one or two bedrooms, a bathroom and a fully equipped kitchen. Some also have a living room and a balcony or a terrace. It's a very popular wallet-friendly option when you are staying in Bled. But be careful, the rates and quality vary seriously, so always do a good research before you book an apartment for your stay! Here you will find the apartments that we think are the best ones in Bled right now. |
 Hostels are a very popular option for those seeking low-cost accommodations in Bled. Most spaces and amenities are usually shared, but even if you’re not up for the cheapest option - a bed in a dorm room - you can often get a basic private room at a Bled hostel for significantly less than the cost of a low-end hotel or privately rented room. Competition between Bled hostels has grown over the past 5-10 years so the quality has risen considerably. There are now some really nice hostels in Bled, find out which are the ones that we recommend and why! |
 There’s nothing quite like going to sleep under the stars, surrounded by nature and only the sound of birdsong to wake you up in the morning. The Bled area has a breathtaking nature which is perfect to do just that: whether it’s an all natural campsite or a luxurious glamping experience, these are the best outdoor sleeping areas in Bled. |
 Farm stays are an increasingly popular vacation option, especially for families with young children. Styled after traditional B&Bs, farm stays offer comfortable lodging, low rates, generous breakfasts and direct access to farm animals, fresh fruit, vegetables and eggs. On some farms you can also join in with farm tasks, including feeding and egg collecting. Find out which farm stays in the Lake Bled area we recommend the most. |