Fijaker Rides

Fijakerji are the traditional horse-drawn carriages of Bled, and for generations they have been part of the scenery around the lake. The word fijaker is a Slovene form of the German Fiaker, the name for a hired carriage in Vienna, and it came into use under the Habsburg monarchy, when Bled began to develop as a resort for well-to-do visitors from the Austrian lands. The first guests arrived by train and needed a way to reach the lake and the hotels, and carriages were the natural answer. Later, as car traffic grew, the fijakerji remained as a nostalgic tradition and a tourist attraction.

A ride in a fijaker is a way to see Bled at a slower pace. The carriages are open and pulled by one or two horses, and the driver, often from a family that has worked in the trade for several generations, sits on the box in a traditional outfit. Typical routes take passengers along the lakeside road, with the water on one side and the woods and houses on the other, to viewpoints where the island with its church, the cliff-top castle and the line of the Julian Alps come into view together. Some drivers also offer the climb to the castle or a longer circuit, and they often tell stories about the town, its history and its characters as they go. The rhythm of the horses' hooves and the creak of the carriage create a mood that is quite different from that of a bus tour.

The carriages usually wait at stands near the lakeside promenade, so it is easy to find one without booking, though in summer a reservation can be useful. Prices and routes vary, so it is wise to agree both with the driver before setting off. Rides are generally available throughout the year, weather permitting, and in winter a blanket and a warm jacket make the ride more comfortable. Travellers who care about the welfare of animals can ask about the care of the horses, and respectable operators will answer willingly, since the horses are essential to their livelihood.

The fijaker is a good complement to other ways of seeing the lake. Walking the Lake Loop Walk takes around two hours, the Pletna boats cross to the island, and Bled Castle, Ojstrica, Mala and Velika Osojnica and Straža give views from above. Swimming Spots line the shore in summer. A carriage ride is especially pleasant on a quiet afternoon outside the peak hours, when the lake road is calm and the light is soft.