Friday, July 31, 2009

BLED ISLAND, SLOVENIA



THE LEGEND OF THE WISHING BELL

A young widow who lived at Bled Castle mourned her husband who had been killed by brigands. She gathered all her gold and silver and had a bell cast for the chapel on Bled Island. When th bell was being transported to the island, a tempest caused the boat to overturn. The boatmen drowned and the bell sank to the bottom of the lake.

The young widow, now even mor devestated, decided to go to rome and enter a convent. After her death, the Pope donated another bell for the church of the Isle of Bled. The legend has it that those who ring the bell to honour the Blessed Virgin and make a wish will see their wish come true.