Vila Bled
Lake Bled, Slovenia
Tito's summer vila on Lake Bled
Vila Bled, on the shores of Lake Bled in Slovenia, is an old-fashioned mansion-style hotel. It was built by Tito, the first president of the Yugoslav Federation, as a summer vila in the 1940s.
Most of the other hotels and accommodation facilities on the shores of Lake Bled are located on the hills a short distance away from the lake or in the villages, while Vila Bled is built on a hill right next to the lake. If you go down the stone stairs that are connected to the building, you will see the private boat house and the marina of the hotel. Surrounded by woods, the hotel has the appearance of occupying the entire southern shore of the lake. If you look out from the balcony of your room, you get the impression that the cliffs of the Julie Alps on the opposite side of the lake are a wall and the island in the centre of the lake your own backyard.
The hotel is a white marble building set back from the large trees with lush branches and the garden-lined driveway. It is not a flashy or grand hotel, but it does retain the elegant feel of the old days. The room is really spacious, which is rare in Europe. The interior of the building has only been renovated and not significantly altered from its original appearance, so the furniture and bathrooms are actually a bit old and outdated. However, they are clean and the beds and bedding are warm and comfortable, making it really easy to sleep well.
Take a dawn stroll along the lakeshore if you wake up early in the morning in the tranquil Vila Bled! Follow the stone steps down to the lake, which lead to a path and a terrace around the lake. You will never forget the fresh air you breathed while watching the ever-changing colours of Lake Bled at dawn. From silver to pink, orange and blue, as the morning mist rises from the lake.
During the summer, the vila's private boathouse and deck are available for guests to use (one hour). A flat-bottomed boat called a pletna is usually taken to the island, but if you're feeling confident, you can row the boat yourself.
In addition, Café Belvedere is open in a pavilion overlooking the lake from April to October during the summer season. In the old days, Tito invited world celebrities for tea parties, but now people come to taste the traditional Kremšnita cake.
When I returned from my morning walk, a meal was waiting for me. Originally it was served as a breakfast buffet, but as the season I visited was low season and there were few customers, a few plates of food were brought to our table. These included cheese, prosciutto, fruits and pies. Each was simple, but tasted so good that I couldn't help but finish them all without leaving any. The restaurant where breakfast is served is a room with a view of the lake through the glass wall, and according to the staff, in the summer you can eat on the outside terrace with its arched columns.
There is nothing particularly dramatic about the shores of Lake Bled. It is a place where all you have to do is go for a walk, climb the castle on the hill and take the boat across the lake to the island. Swimming seems to be the most active thing you can do. The calm and peaceful landscape and atmosphere of this place seem to have a magical effect. It slows down the clock and relaxes the mind. This is even more true of Vila Bled.
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