Area description
Lake Zbilje has an area of 47 hectares and was formed by damming the Sava river in the early fifties. The village Zbilje and a boathouse lay on the left lakeside, whereas hill Brezovec and a small holiday housing settlement lay on the right lakeside. The lakes shore is steep and largely overgrown with a mixed forest. Huge amount of river debris, which can be seen at a very low water level in form of silt islands, has accumulated in the lake over the years.

Access and trail description
With the city bus (LPP):: You take the city bus (LPP) number 25 and get off at the bus stop ‘’ob igrišču’’ (at the playground) in Medvode. You continue on foot in the direction of Zbilje along the main road. After a kilometre you reach a guest house, which is close to the dam. If you want to visit this area, you turn right and go to the river. The best spot for observations here is the cape, which is reached by following a metal wire that is stretched across the river. The most appropriate place for observing the central part of the lake is the boat house. To get to the boat house, you either go through the forest or continue your way along the main road. In both cases make sure to turn right at the Mercator store to get into Zbilje and then continue towards the firehouse. There you turn right again and continue your way towards the lake.

With the intercity bus: You can get to Medvode by taking one of the several intercity buses running around Ljubljana or towards Kranj. In this case, you have to get off the bus either on the bus stop ‘’Zbilje jezero’’ (Zbilje Lake) or ‘’Zbilje križišče’’ (Zbilje crossroads). From the station you continue your way through Zbilje towards the lake.

With the train: You get off the train at Medvode train station. By turning left at the crossroad with the main road and continuing onward you reach the city bus stop ‘’ob igrišču’’ (at the playground).

The trip takes two to three hours.

Birds
Lake Zbilje is probably the best area to observe wintering waterfowl in the vicinity of Ljubljana and central Slovenia in general. It is possible to see several species of grebes, ducks (gadwall, tufted duck, common pochard – to name just a few), the grey heron and, to a lesser extent, gulls – of which the black-headed and yellow-legged gull are most regular. The velvet scoter is among the rare birds that may occur here as well. Trees surrounding the lake are worth paying attention to, as flocks of thrushes, finches and woodpeckers linger in them frequently. The crested tit and the goldcrest are frequent inhabitants of the coniferous forest in the vicinity of the cape.

Other plants and animals
The lake is very rich in fish. The most common species of fish are rainbow trout, European chub, esox, common roach and common nase. Overspreading of aquatic plants (particularly of American waterweed) poses a big problem in the lake.

Interesting links
Municipality of Medvode
Tourist association of Medvode