The boat ride to Bled Island
The most iconic feature of
the most iconic attraction in the country, it is the image of the church on the
island that attracts so many curious visitors to Bled and Slovenia every single
year.
Ringing the Bell
The ""wishing bell"" from 1534 in the
upper roof beam above the church nave, is by F. Patavina from Padova. According to
the legend, a young widow Poliksena once lived at the Bled Castle, who had a
bell casted for the chapel on the island in memory of her husband. During the
transport of the bell, a terrible storm struck the boat and sank it together
with the crew and the bell, which to this day is said to ring from the depths
of the lake. After the widow died, the Pope consecrated a new bell and sent it
to the Bled Island. It is said that whoever rings this bell and thereby gives
honour to Virgin Mary gets his wish come true.
The
present form of the church dates from the 17th century when it was renovated
after another earthquake. The main altar with its rich gold-plated carving,
dates from 1747. On the central altarpiece the Virgin Mary is shown seated,
with the donor of the Bled estate, Henry II, and his wife Kunigunda at her
side. The side altars, consecrated to St. Sebastian, St. Magdalena and St.
Anna, were made at the end of the 17th century.
