Lake Bled: Jewel of Slovenia amid spectacular landscapes

If Slovenia is Europe's undiscovered jewel box, Lake Bled is its precious diamond.

Tucked in the northwestern corner of Slovenia, between Austria and Italy, Lake Bled's emerald-green waters create a spectacular landscape, with a lush, tiny island and a church tower peeking out of evergreens surrounded by the rocky, snow-covered Julian Alps.

A majestic 16th-century castle stands on a steep cliff, and a narrow pathway winds through a thick pine forest. It's like something from a kitsch painting - only the picture-perfect appeal of Lake Bled is for real.