Bohinjsko Jezero Review

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Bohinjsko Jezero

Fodor's Review:

25 km (16 mi) southwest of Bled, 75 km (47 mi) from Ljubljana.

Bohinjsko Jezero (Lake Bohinj) lies to the south and west of Bled along a crowded two-lane highway that thins out the farther you travel from Bled. If you're driving, follow the signs to "jezero" (lake). The lake area proper begins in the small lakeside village of Ribcev Laz. Lake Bohinj is quieter, wilder, and in many ways prettier than Bled, its sister lake to the east.

Unlike Bled, Bohinj lies entirely within the Triglav National Park. This has greatly inhibited development of the shore and surrounding areas. The entire length of the north shore is wild and accessible only by foot. The lake, at an altitude of 1,715 feet, is surrounded on three sides by the steep walls of the Julian Alps. The altitude means the temperature of the water—even in August—rarely rises above a brisk but still swimmable 74°F.

There is no town called "Bohinj" as such. The small village of Ribcev Laz, on the eastern end of the lake functions as the de facto town center, where you'll find a grocery store, post office, currency exchange, an ATM, and the tourist-information center. On the western shore lies the remote village of Ukanc, anchored by the Hotel Zlatorog, a campsite, and a few small shops. Just to the north and east of Ribcev Laz are the tiny hamlets of Stara Fuzina, Studor, and Srednja Vas. Addresses are simple enough when you figure out what they mean: the name of the village is first, followed by the house or building number; administratively, "Bohinjsko Jezero" is treated as the "town."

On the eastern bank of Lake Bohinj in Ribcev Laz, you'll find the 15th-century Gothic church of Sveti Janez The small church has a fine bell tower and contains a number of notable 15th- and 16th-century frescoes. Ribcev Laz.

At the west end of Lake Bohinj near Ukanc a cable car leads up Mt. Vogel to a height of 5,035 feet. From here, you have spectacular views of the Julian Alps massif and the Bohinj valley and lake. From the cable-car base, the road continues 5 km (3 mi) beyond the lake to the point where the Savica River makes a tremendous leap over a 194-foot waterfall. The cable car runs year-round from 8 AM until 6 PM (until 7 PM in July and August). A round-trip ticket costs EUR 8. Gasoline-powered engines are not allowed on Lake Bohinj because of the danger of pollution. The super-quiet Turisticna Ladja runs on electrical power. The boat makes hourly runs during daylight hours from June to mid-September from the boat dock just below Ribcev Laz to Camp Zlatorog on the western side of the lake and back. A ticket costs EUR 6.50 one way, or EUR 8 round-trip.

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