The pretty 1,000-year-old European lake that looks like it’s ‘straight out of a storybook’

This unbelievable lake is one of and it’s found in a country which Brits don’t often visit. Bled, in Slovenia, is surrounded by beautiful scenery and in the middle of the lake, there is a famous small island home to a medieval gothic castle.

The lake is unusual in that it is not fed by any river or stream but rather by water emerging from springs. One visitor on Tripadvisor said: “We are so grateful that we actually got to experience this. It only took an hour to get here from Ljubljana and Bled is a great way to spend a day with your family. You have the castle, swimming activities, places to relax and of course sailing out to Bled island. It was so enjoyable taking the boat out there and the scenery was amazing.”

If you’re planning to , you can stay in Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana, which is less than 50 minutes away from the lake by car.

One of the most photographed features of Lake Bled is the tiny wooded island of Blejski Otok.

The island is the only one located in Slovenia and distinguishes Lake Bled from any other in the world, making it instantly recognizable.

You can access the island by travelling in a traditional wooden boat known as a pletna.

The lake is popular for hiking and walking but you can also complete such as paddle-boarding.

Another visitor said: “If you’re visiting Slovenia, do not miss visiting Bled! It is even more beautiful than the pictures!

“Walked all the way round, approx 6 miles, easy walk and beautiful. Went on a boat trip across to the island, which was lovely, didn’t go to the church as it was a bit overpriced on top of the boat trip across. But great views and beautiful little island.”

One must-do while you’re in the area is to try the famous Bled cream cake made with an original – date over 12 million portions have been sold.