Lake Bled, Slovenia

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Icy reflections and snow-dusted peaks. Lake Bled, Slovenia

Lake Bled in Slovenia gets plenty of attention in summer, but winter? That's when things slow down in the best way. The lake's emerald waters take on a softer tone, and Bled Island, with its quaint church, looks straight out of a winter fairytale, as seen in today's image. The 2-kilometre lake, surrounded by the snow-dusted Julian Alps, was formed over 14,000 years ago through glacial and tectonic activity. The first signs of settlement on Bled Island date back to the New Stone Age (10,000 BCE to 3,000 BCE). Additionally, archaeologists uncovered an Early Medieval graveyard here from the 9th century CE. Today, it houses the Church of the Assumption—built in its current form near the end of the 17th century—where visitors ring the 'wishing bell' for good luck.

When you're here, don't let the cold keep you indoors. Take a walk around the lake, ride the traditional boat, called a pletna, to Bled Island or head up to Bled Castle for sweeping views of the town. Feeling adventurous? There are plenty of ski slopes not far from the lake. And before you go, treat yourself to a slice of Bled cream cake—yes, it's famous for a reason, and no, you won't regret it.