Why Lake Bled No Longer Freezes in Winter
Written by Pia Kleva
Beyond nine mountains and nine rivers there once lay a vision of paradise—a hidden place called Bled.
On the little island in the middle of the lake stood not only a chapel but also a small house, home to nine sisters. The Sisters of Bled were inseparable companions and the best of friends. Together they ran their own seasonal craft—the art of skating.
Each winter, the family skating centre attracted many lovers of the ice. When temperatures dropped below zero and the lake froze over, the sisters made and rented skates, taught people how to glide, and guided groups across the frozen surface. All the while they told visitors the most beautiful stories about Bled.
But then, one winter season, the sisters quarrelled bitterly. The winters were becoming milder, the skating seasons shorter, and the rivalry between them fiercer. Each wanted more opportunities, more praise. And so jealousy took root—an old sickness of envy and resentment.
Weeks passed, and the sisters grew ever more distant. Dark looks and silence filled their home. Meanwhile the ice on the lake, their white stage for the skating craft, melted faster than ever before. Another winter came, but the lake did not freeze at all. The sisters waited in vain for the moment they could step once more onto the ice.
They were almost in despair when, one day, a heavenly bird flew in from faraway lands.
Gathering them together, it spoke:
Illustrated by Gregor Šuštar
“Daughters of Bled, your lake no longer freezes because your bonds are no longer true. Resentment, envy and gossip warm the air around you and prevent the temperature from falling below zero.
Only if you come together again, forgive each other, cooperate and help one another, will you preserve your mission in Bled. Compassion, respect and love in your hearts are what truly matter! Only then can you find a solution.”
The heavenly bird flew away, and the sisters looked at one another. Without hesitation, they ran into each other’s arms and embraced.
In that very moment, a boat appeared on the lake. At first they were surprised, but soon they understood—it had been sent by the heavenly bird.
From that day onwards, the Sisters of Bled no longer made skates. Instead, they turned to a new craft—boatmaking. Their beautifully crafted vessels became, and remain, a true attraction on Lake Bled.
And if today you notice a pletna with a woman’s name carved into it, remember: it is a tribute to the Sisters of Bled—those who once wove stories from the heart and passed them down from one generation to the next.
And it is their husbands who, still today, tell these tales to every curious visitor while they row.