Once pastures, now a lake
A story has survived, among the people, about the formation of the island in the middle of Lake Bled, which says:
“In ancient times, there were pastures where the lake waves are now bubbling. A small church dedicated to the Virgin Mary stood on a hill, in the middle. As there was no fence around the church, the cattle walked straight to the church – they even escaped inside the church. The indifferent people did not care that the cattle had desecrated the holy place, so they heard a warning voice several times: “Fence the church, if not, I will do it myself!”, but they ignored the voice. When they got up one morning, they noticed that the church was far around fenced. Lake waves were now playing where large pastures used to be.”
Invocations to the Mother of God on the Lake
There is still a living story about the bell that can be rung in the Church of the Assumption of Mary on Bled Island:
“A young widow lived at Bled Castle. She gathered all her silver and gold and had a bell forged to be donated to the Mother of God on the Lake in memory of her late husband. During the transport to the island, a storm raged and the boat with the bell and the boatmen sank into the lake depths. The widow withdrew to a Rome convent in grief. After her death, the Pope sent to Bled Island another bell that people have loved to ring ever since, turning to the Mother of God on the Lake with their wishes and requests for help.”
Information, wedding ceremony and announcement of organized groups: T: +386 4 576 79 79 F: +386 4 576 79 01 E: info@blejskiotok.si Island fee, info, announcement of organized groups: T: +386 4576 79 77
T: +386 4 576 79 79 E: poticnica@blejskiotok.si info@blejskiotok.si
T: +386 70 865 738 E: hotel@blejskiotok.si
T: +386 4576 79 78
Orders online or in-person at the Parish of Bled office every Monday from 8.00 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. Possible additional dates: every day at 7.30 a.m. by prior arrangement with the Parish of Bled.
DŠ: 95119159 TRR: IBAN SI56 0700 0000 0791 028 (GB d.d., Kranj) E-mail: info@zupnija-bled.si
Slovenski trg 1 4260 Bled Slovenia
ID DDV: SI13782061 MŠ: 2039702000 TRR: IBAN SI56 0313 9100 0250 549 (SKB d.d.)
Many visitors to the shrine, who have always gone on pilgrimage to the island, love the Wishing Bell. When they ring the bell, they commend themselves to the Mother of God and hand over their wishes and requests in faith that she will fulfil them.
