Old postcards of Bled Castle

On the first floor of the museum building, an interesting exhibition of old postcards of Bled Castle is on display, created in collaboration between the Institute for Culture Bled, the Bled branch of the A. T. Linhart Library Radovljica, and historian and ethnologist Janez Fajfar.

Bled Castle, one of the most recognizable Slovenian landmarks, has inspired artists, photographers, and tourists for many years. Due to its picturesque location on a cliff above Lake Bled and its rich history, Bled Castle has often been depicted on postcards, which began appearing in the second half of the 19th century with the development of tourism in Bled. For over a century, it has been a popular subject on postcards, which serve as an important medium for promoting tourism and culture. Postcards featuring the castle have reflected historical changes and advancements in technological and artistic approaches to printing and design.

Historian and ethnologist Janez Fajfar on the exhibition: “For an image of paradise, as Prešeren described Bled, it is no surprise that the first known postcard in Slovenia was sent from here in 1889. The emerald alpine lake, the ancient pilgrimage center on the island, the thousand-year-old castle on the cliff above the lake, the rapidly developing spa tourism, and the awakening of Slovenian national consciousness inspired many painters and photographers to create countless postcards featuring the most beautiful place in our country

Today, postcards of Bled Castle remain an important part of the tourist offer, showcasing the current image of the castle and its surroundings, enhancing its recognition, and representing Slovenia on the global tourist map.