At Bled Castle, in Slovenia

 "There are no rules of architecture for a castle in the clouds."

-- Gilbert K. Chesterton
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(in Slovenia) What is it about castles that makes them alluring to travelers? Aside from getting us a step closer to living out our fairytale fantasies, the amazing structures showcase some of the world’s best architecture, and most stunning landscapes. There is perhaps no better place to find awe-inspiring castles than in Europe, where it seems that you can hardly visit a city, or take a road trip, without seeing a castle, where you will find medieval stone walls, sky-high towers, and bridges arching over glittering moats, especially from the Bavarian Alps to the Mediterranean coasts.

+ Featured here is Bled Castle, in Slovenia. Perched atop a steep cliff more than 100 meters above Lake Bled, this castle is a good example of how most people imagine a medieval fortress to be, with towers, ramparts, moats, and a terrace offering magnificent views. The castle houses a museum collection that traces the lake’s history from early times to the development of Bled as a resort in the 19th century. Built on two levels, it dates back to the early 11th century, although most of what stands here now is from the 16th century. For 800 years it was the seat of the Bishops of Brixen. Among its museum holdings, there is a large collection of armor and weapons (and jewelry found at the early Slav burial pits at Pristava, in Slovenia). The 16th-century Gothic chapel contains paintings of castle donor Henry II and his wife Kunigunda on either side of the main altar.

+ There are many reasons why Lake Bled is one of Slovenia’s most popular sites, featuring emerald waters, a church on an islet, views of the Julien Alps, and, of course, this magnificent castle on a hill. Climb your way up the forest trail to see Bled Castle’s orange-roofed towers and 11th-century walls up close; then turn around to be afforded some of the most amazing views of the beautiful lake below.
+ The castle's history dates back to 1004 when the German king Henry II conferred the estate of Bled on Bishop Albuin of Brixen (in northern Italy). At that time, only the Romanesque tower protected by the wall that stood at the site of the current castle. (The initial castle was built by the bishops around 1011 for defensive purposes.) The bishops of Brixen never lived in the castle, and so it did not have any extravagant rooms.

+ In the Middle Ages additional towers were built and the fortification system with the wall and tower above the ditch were upgraded. (Though the ditch has since been covered, the scene still stirs one's imagination.)

+ Double structure is typical of the castle -- the fortified main part, intended for the residence of feudal lords and the exterior part with the walls and facilities for servants. In 1511, the castle was severely damaged by an earthquake, but it was rebuilt to become the version one sees today. (The castle buildings are decorated with images of coats-of-arms.)