Bled: Culture Destination of the Future
With castles being among the most praised and visited tourist attractions around the planet, their maintenance is another story. Complex renovations of masterpieces with such enormous historical and cultural significance can become a tremendous financial burden to the community's budget, which often leads to unfortunate degridation. But not in Bled, where the Bled Culture Institute took over management of the Bled castle, one of the most prominent Slovene monuments, back in 2007.
Their first and main task of the Institute was to come up with a strategy that would provide the financial means to complete the renovation of the château, which didn't undergo any significant improvements since the the 1950s. With several abundant tourist seasons and thoughtful management of the premises, along with numerous cultural events that attracted large numbers of visitors, theysecured enough revenue. More than 10 million Euros was accumulated and invested in the renovation.
Revitalization of the precious building and legacy took place with the cooperation of the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia, under the governance of Dr. Nika Leben. The main renovation difficulty was the location and the extremely exposed position of the castle, which oversees the lake from more than hundred meters. An additional challenge was the nature of tourist attraction itself, demanding regular visiting hours throughout the year.But the Institute is not resting on their laurels, they are already making plans for the future. One project for 2021 envisions the installation of a lift, enabling everyone, including the elderly and handicapped, who may struggle with the steep road leading to the castle.
Another enhancement of the future is an extended castle complex, which will provide additional cultural content and enriching the experience of the visitor. Within the complex the Institute is planning a renovation of the old Mrak's homestead, turning it into an ethnological museum with a memorial exhibition of the artist and sculptor Slavko Oblak. There wil also be an archeological excavation at the site of the early Slavic settlement in Višce. In addition to the Bled castle, the main attraction of this area will be the Gallery of Contemporary Art, which will be created at the foot of the castle hill and designed by world famus David Chipperfield. Traffic areas will also be upgraded, with additional parking spaces and shuttle services. All these points of interest should be completed by the year 2022.Thoughtful activities for Visitors
Bled castle is already an excellent example of a tourist destination with more than one point of interest. Each section of the ancient building has its own purpose, serving several human desires-to learn, to feel, to eat, or to shop.Everyone interested in the history of Bled, which dates back to the 7th Century AD, can quench their thirst for knowledge in the castle museum, located in the baroque rooms. An essential event in castle's history was a period of the building serving as a Protestant stronghold in the 16th Century, when a Slovenian Protestant reformer, the author of the first book in Slovene, Primož Trubar, visited the place. Today, as a memory, one can observe a demonstration of printing on a reconstructed Gutenberg printing machine and prints of certificates. In a neighboring forge, where various forged artifacts, are presented. One can get a souvenir coin to the freshly printed memorial certificate. Bled used to be surrounded by rich ore deposits around the lake, which led to the birth of the local forging art.
The castle's renowned restaurant, led by the Jezeršek Company, offers modern interpretations of traditional dishes and drinks while preserving the gastronomical heritage of Upper Carniola region and Slovenia. The nearby coffeeshop, open during the warm months, has a selection of premium Slovene wines and craft beers, along with one and only cream cake! For wine lovers, there is also a unique castle wine cellar, where a visitor can fill a bottle with their own hands or keep it simple, just tasting its top-quality wines. A boutique shop called Castle Beehouse focuses on honey products typical for the area, where an endemic species, the Carniolan honey bee, prevails.