At the Bled Castle, above the city of Bled, in the Republic of Slovenia, a country in southern Central Europe

 "...Hills of forest green where the mountains touch the sky

A dream come true, I'll live there 'til I die...."
-- Don McLean
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(In the Republic of Slovenia, a country in southern Central Europe) Bled Castle (Slovene: Blejski grad) is a medieval castle built on a precipice above the city of Bled in Slovenia, overlooking Lake Bled. (According to written sources, it is the oldest Slovenian castle and is currently one of the most visited tourist attractions in Slovenia.) Today, the castle is employed as a historical museum with a collection that represents the lake's history.

+This castle was first mentioned in a deed of donation issued by Emperor Henry II to the bishops of Brixen on May 22, 1011. The castle remained as the residence of the bishops for centuries. At the time of the deed of donation, the area belonged to the March (or Margraviate) of Carniola in the Holy Roman Empire, but in 1278 it passed to the Austrian House of Habsburg.

+ The oldest part of the castle is the Romanesque tower. In the Middle Ages more towers were built and the fortifications were improved. Other buildings were constructed in the Renaissance style. The buildings are arranged around two courtyards, which are connected with a staircase. There is a chapel in the upper courtyard, which was built in the 16th century and renovated around 1700, when it was also painted with illusionist frescoes. (The castle also has a drawbridge over a moat.)

+ Perched atop a steep cliff more than 100 meters above the lake, Bled Castle is how many, if not 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 earliest times to the development of Bled as a resort in the 19th century.

+ The castle, built on two levels, 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 the museum holdings, there's a large collection of armour and weapons, and jewelry that was found at the early Slav burial pits at Pristava. The relatively small16th-century Gothic chapel contains paintings of castle donor Henry II and his wife Kunigunda on either side of the main altar.

+ You can reach the castle on foot via one of three trails that are signposted "Grad." The first trail starts from the car park behind the Bledec Hostel; the second is a (difficult) path up from the Castle Lido swimming area; and the third starts just north of the Parish Church of St Martin.