Long before ski resorts and lift passes existed anywhere in Central Europe, the farmers of Bloke were already strapping planks of bent beechwood to their boots to get through the snow. Slovenian polymath Janez Vajkard Valvasor wrote about it in 1689, which makes Bloke home to the oldest documented skiing in the region, born out of necessity rather than sport. That history still shows up on the municipal crest today.

Bloke is a quiet karst plateau in the Notranjska region, about 45 minutes south of Ljubljana and just up the road from Cerknica. Forests, wet meadows and 45 scattered little villages make up the municipality, with Lake Bloke as the social hub in both summer and winter. Whether you're chasing a slow weekend by the water or a proper snowed-in escape, there's a stay here to match.

Where to stay in Bloke

• Nova Vas - the largest village and the municipal seat, with the best access to shops, services and the road out to Cerknica and Ljubljana. A sensible base if you want to be close to everything.
• Volčje - sits right by Lake Bloke, so this is the pick for swimming, ice skating or watching the sun come up over the water from your window.
• Velike Bloke - one of the bigger villages on the plateau, surrounded by the forest and meadow country the region is known for. Good for a stay that feels properly rural.
• Ravne na Blokah - a smaller settlement handy to the cross-country ski tracks that thread across the plateau in winter.

How much is Bloke accommodation?

Bloke runs cheaper than Slovenia's coastal or alpine hotspots, with most stays sitting somewhere between AU$70 and AU$250 a night depending on the season and how much space you want.

• Guesthouse rooms - from around AU$70 per night. Simple private rooms in a family-run house, often with breakfast thrown in.
• Self-catering apartments - from around AU$110 per night. Your own kitchen and living space, handy if you're stocking up on supplies before a few days off the grid.
• Family houses and lodges - from around AU$160 per night. More bedrooms, gardens and often a pool or sauna, built for groups or longer stays.
• Glamping and lakeside chalets - from around AU$220 per night. The top end of what's on offer here, usually within walking distance of Lake Bloke itself.

Winter weekends around the ski season and summer weekends by the lake are when things tend to book out fastest, so don't leave it too late to lock in a date.

Top-rated hotels in Bloke

• Hiša Glamping Lake Bloke - glamping tents set up a short walk from the water, for travellers who want the lake view without giving up a proper bed.
• House Fortin With Sauna Near Bloke Lake - a private house with its own sauna, built for warming back up after a cold-water swim or a day on the ski tracks.
• Forest Princess Chalet Near Lake Bloke - a standalone chalet tucked into the forest, good for a couple or small family wanting some real quiet.
• Apartments Lavrič - a set of self-contained apartments across the property, handy if your group needs its own space but still wants to stay together.
• Old School Villa - a converted village schoolhouse turned into a villa stay, with the kind of thick stone walls and character you don't get in a new build.

Tips for finding the perfect accommodation in Bloke

• Bloke has a genuinely small pool of properties, so during peak ski weekends and summer school holidays it can sell out completely. Book earlier than you would for a bigger destination.
• Filter for "near Lake Bloke" if swimming, skating or that first-light view over the water matters more to you than being near the shops in Nova Vas.
• If you're driving up from Ljubljana or the coast, Bloke sits just off the road through Cerknica, so it works well as a stopover or a base for a day trip rather than a long detour.
• Cross-country skiers should look for a stay close to Ravne na Blokah or the marked tracks, since some of the smaller villages are a fair hike from the groomed trails.
• Pack for genuine seasons. Locals half-joke that Bloke is Slovenia's answer to Tibet with six months of winter, so a summer booking and a winter booking need very different kit.

Fancy seeing more of Notranjska while you're up here? Bloke sits close to Cerknica and its famous disappearing lake, and both make an easy pair with a wider stay across Slovenia.