Vlašim


Vlašim is a town in Benešov District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 11,000 inhabitants. Vlašim is known for the Vlašim Castle and its English park.

Administrative division

Vlašim consists of seven municipal parts :
  • Vlašim
  • Bolina
  • Domašín
  • Hrazená Lhota
  • Nesperská Lhota
  • Polánka
  • Znosim

    Etymology

The name is derived from the personal name Vlašim, meaning "Vlašim's ".

Geography

Vlašim is located about southeast of Benešov and southeast of Prague. It lies in the Vlašim Uplands. The highest point is at above sea level. The Blanice River flows through the town.

Climate

Vlašim's climate is classified as humid continental climate. Among them, the annual average temperature is, the hottest month in August is, and the coldest month is in January. The annual precipitation is, of which May is the wettest with, while February is the driest with only. The extreme temperature throughout the year ranged from on 10 February 1956 to on 13 August 1935.

History

The castle is Vlašim was probably built in 1303 by local noble family, which started calling itself the Vlašim family. The first written mention of the castle and therefore of Vlašim is from 1318. After the Vlašim family, the town was owned by the Trčka of Lípa family and then by the Ostrovec family. As a result of the Battle of White Mountain in 1620, the properties of the Ostrovec family were confiscated and Vlašim was acquired by the Talmberk family in 1622. They owned the town until 1744. From 1744 until the end of World War II, the Vlašim estate was owned by the Auersperg family.

Demographics

Economy

The most significant industrial company in Vlašim is Sellier & Bellot, a manufacturer of ammunition. It employs more than 1,500 people.

Transport

There are no major roads passing through the town.
Vlašim is located on the Benešov–Trhový Štěpánov railway line.
In the northern part of the territory of Vlašim is a small airport, available for national public traffic.

Culture

The castle park hosts an annual festival on 1 May, which is a public holiday in the Czech Republic.

Sport

The town is home to an association football team, FC Sellier & Bellot Vlašim, which plays in the Czech National Football League, the second tier of Czech football.

Sights

The main landmark of the town is the Vlašim Castle. The original Gothic castle was rebuilt in the Renaissance style in the 16th century. It is surrounded by a large English landscape garden with many pieces of romantic architecture such as the Chinese pavilion, Old Castle and its three gates.
The Church of Saint Giles is a late Gothic building, built in 1522–1523.

Notable people

  • Jan Očko of Vlašim, Archbishop of Prague
  • Miluše Poupětová, artist
  • Marcela Krinke-Susmelj, Czech-Swiss dressage rider
  • Luboš Kozel, football player and manager
  • Libor Procházka, ice hockey player
  • Stanislav Vlček, footballer
  • Michal Rozsíval, ice hockey player
  • Michal Řepík, ice hockey player
  • Kristýna Kaltounková, ice hockey player