Bled Castle

Bled Castle
Blejski grad
Bled Castle is the oldest Slovenian castle mentioned in documents View of Bled Castle from Bled
General information
Type	medieval castle
Architectural style	Renaissance, Romanesque walls
Town or city	Bled
Country	Slovenia
Coordinates
Elevation	599
References
http://giskd2s.situla.org/rkd/Opis.asp?Esd=24

Bled Castle (Slovene: Blejski grad, German: Burg Veldes) is a medieval castle built on a precipice above the city of Bled in Slovenia, overlooking Lake Bled. According to written sources, it is the oldest Slovenian castle and is currently one of the most visited tourist attractions in Slovenia.

History and structures

The castle was first mentioned in a 22 May 1011 deed of donation issued by Emperor Henry II in favour of the Bishops of Brixen. Then located in the March of Carniola, it passed to the Austrian House of Habsburg in 1278.

The oldest part of the castle is the Romanesque tower. In the Middle Ages more towers were built and the fortifications were improved. Other buildings were constructed in the Renaissance style. The buildings are arranged around two courtyards, which are connected with a staircase. There is a chapel in the upper courtyard, which was built in the 16th century and renovated around 1700, when it was also painted with illusionist frescoes. The castle also has a drawbridge over a moat.

Gallery

• Blejski grad 09.JPG

  Upper courtyard with residence and the Gothic castle chapel.

• Blejski grad 01.JPG

  Lower courtyard with castle outbuildings

• Blejski grad 02.JPG

  Castle entrance

• BledCastle1.JPG

  Buildings around the lower courtyard

• Bled1a.jpg

  View from Castle Bled

• Bled Castle 05.jpg

  Bled Castle in Winter

• Bled Castle 02.jpg

  Bled Castle in late Summer

External links

• Bled Castle. Blejski-grad.si. Bled Cultural Institute. Accessed 22 May 2011.
• Virtual panoramas. Boštjan Burger. Burger.si. Accessed 22 May 2011.