Lake Bled in 4 days

Slovenia's only natural island, home to a shrine to the Virgin since the 11th century; the present Church of the Assumption is 17th century.

The postcard view of lake, island, castle and Triglav, about 45 minutes up a steep path from Zaka, with ladders near the top.

Six kilometres of flat path, about two hours, past the grand hotels, through woods on the south shore and by bathing jetties.

Set on a 130-metre cliff above the north shore, first mentioned in 1011 and held by the Bishops of Brixen for nearly eight centuries.

The Bled cream slice created in 1953 by Ištvan Lukačević for the Park Hotel: vanilla custard and whipped cream between layers of pastry.

A 1,600-metre gorge cut by the Radovna four kilometres north of the lake, followed on wooden walkways fixed to the rock since 1893.

A karst plateau of spruce forest and peat bogs half an hour above Bled, Slovenia's cross-country skiing centre and a World Cup biathlon venue.

Thirty kilometres south-west and wholly inside Triglav National Park: wooded shores, no castle, and the frescoed church of St John the Baptist at Ribčev Laz.