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Slovenia / Italy / Austria: CS Carantania Invasion: Day 3 - Bled, Peričnik, Zelenci, Bike Week

Since the majority of the invaders slept quite long, Nada and me quickly conquered one of the local hills, Kršiše. When we were back, they slowly started to wake up, and my plan for a longer route had to change accordingly. Plan B included visiting Lake Bled, one of the most beautiful waterfalls, Waterfall Peričnik, one of the sources of our longest river, Zelenci and in the end visit Bike Week in Lake Faak, Austria.

Kim and La Gorda in Bled

 

Bled Castle is a medieval castle built on a precipice above the city of Bled. According to written sources it is the oldest castle in Slovenia, first mentioned in a 1011 donation deed as castellum Veldes.

St. Martin's Parish Church is a neo-Gothic church, consecrated to St. Martin and it was built in 1905 on the site of the previous Gothic church dating from the 15th century, although the very first chapel was erected here before the year 1000.

A small island in the middle of the lake is home to Assumption of Mary Pilgrimage Church; visitors frequently ring its bell for good luck. Human traces from prehistory have been found on the island. Before the church was built, there was a temple consecrated to Živa, the Slavic goddess of love and fertility.

Fons, Kim, Nada, Tuši, Milton and David next to glacial Lake Bled with the castle and the church behind us.

One of many turns

The Triglavska Bistrica River

The Peričnik waterfall is one of the most stunning and well known in Slovenia. Its waters drop 16 metres down to the first ridge from where it then descends 52 metres down the bottom waterfall. In winter both waterfalls turn into innumerable icicles and floes in delicate shades of blue and green.

Only a few waterfalls are where we can walk from the back of the waterfall. Her you can.

9 Invaders

Zelenci is a spring and eponymous nature reserve. It is one of the sources of the river Sava, which is the longest Slovenian river. At Zelenci, water from the underground stream Nadiža (originating in the Planica valley) re-emerges through the porous bottom of a two-m deep lake, whose waters are noted for their deep, brilliant green. The spring and its surrounding area are named after this colour, zelen meaning "green" in Slovene.

After a short ride through Tarvisio, Italy, we arrived to our final destination Lake Faak, Austria.

100.000 bikes gather around the Lake Faak, so you can really relax your eyes.

Many stages offer good music for everyone.

One of the bands - Toseland

CS Carantania Invasion trip in three neighbouring countries, Slovenia, Italy and Austria

Reports of previous days of Carantania invasion: Day 1, Day 2.