Paradise in the Karawanks
Running is a great way to go sightseeing when traveling, and it has the dual benefit of fitting cardio into my trip. Whether or not I’m training for a race, I usually find time to take a short or long run to help further the distance of my exploration. When I arrived in the town of Bled, Slovenia, nestled up against a small lake, I was immediately taken with the scenery and eager to explore.
When we grow up, fairytales and places like Disneyland encourage us to use our imagination, to envision the perfect place with the perfect scenery. These places exist in real-life; sometimes in our backyards and other times it requires travel.
As if plucked from a Brothers Grimm story, Lake Bled was picture perfect with deep greenery, medieval castles, crystal-clear waters, and the Karawank Mountains as a backdrop. There was even a small island near the middle of the lake. With leafy scenery and both dirt and paved roads, I decided to run the six-kilometer loop to take it all in.
Trail around Lake Bled adjacent to the town of Bled
Starting in town on the southeastern part of the lake and running clockwise, I reached the closest point to Bled Island around 2.5 kilometers. There I saw up close one of the most prominent sight in Bled, the Church of the Mother of God, or Mary’s Church. The renovated church that stands on Bled Island today is over 500 years old. Going back hundreds of years further, an ancient Slavic temple dedicated to the pagan goddess of life and fertility previously stood there. This is just one of many mystical and historical aspects of this very special tiny island that has settlements going back as far as the New Stone Age.
Mary’s Church on Bled Island in the middle of Lake Bled
Continuing around the lake, I ran past a public park for swimming followed by a small dock with wooden boats as I headed towards the final stretch of the loop. Towards the end, I ended up at the bottom of a cliff upon which Bled Castle is delicately perched.
Wooden boats on a dock at Lake Bled
Exhausted but exhilarated, tired but thirsty, I decided to meander over to Devil Cafe & Bar, a lakeside watering hole, for a post-run cool beverage and unbeatable views of the lake and castle.