This is a unique theatre spectacle where the stage is set on the water or rather in the water. Bled’s divers perform the legend of the sunken bell, which tells us how the wishing bell from the island’s church came to the island and became so famous. According to the legend you can wish for whatever you want while ringing the wishing bell and your wish will certainly come true.
Bled Castle lies at the top of a cliff, bathed in the sunshine, high above the lake. It is grand and beautiful as all castles should be. Once upon a time, a happy young married couple lived in one of the castle halls. Day by day, the lady tried on her new beautiful clothes and changed her sparkling jewellery. She stood in front of the mirror, more beautiful each day, and waited for her husband.
The young husband went hunting and acted superior to his subjects and everything that he considered less important than him. He was evil and he knew it as well as the lady. He rode wild horses and carried a sword and a bag of money. In those times, the roads were full of robbers and one day, they found that the vain young man walking around with all that gold. So they waited for him, killed him and took the gold.
His poor widow was inconsolable in her tears: she just cried and cried. Restless, she ran through the castle and thought what to do. How should she survive without her loved one? Suddenly, she got an idea. She collected all her gold jewellery, silverware and similar valuables and cast a bell. It should ring in a chapel on the island in the memory of all sad and misfortunate people just like her.
Unfortunately, when the boatmen went to the island with the bell, a violent storm came. It was so strong that the boat capsized and the bell sank to the bottom of the lake along with the boatmen.
One should know that this was no ordinary bell, especially as it rings from the lake’s depths to this day. The widow was even more desperate after the accident and she could not think of any solution. Consequently, she decided to go to Rome to the largest monastery and resign herself to her miserable fate. The endless pain and suffering had broken her heart.
After death of the beautiful widow, the Pope himself sent another even more beautiful bell to the lake church. It was made of the most precious metal and it had the most beautiful sound in the world. The prophecy was that the greatest and most secret wish would come true to whoever touched this bell and worshipped the Virgin Mary. Since that day, people travel to Bled, from the beautiful shore to the little island. It has been happening for so long that the beautiful widow is satisfied. Furthermore, the people are satisfied too. After all, to live means to suffer and to yearn.
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