| Vlašim | |
| Settlement Type: | Town |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Central Bohemian |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Benešov |
| Pushpin Map: | Czech Republic |
| Pushpin Relief: | 1 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in the Czech Republic |
| Coordinates: | 49.7064°N 14.8989°W |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Luděk Jeništa |
| Established Title: | First mentioned |
| Established Date: | 1318 |
| Area Total Km2: | 41.42 |
| Elevation M: | 365 |
| Population As Of: | 2024-01-01 |
| Population Footnotes: | [1] |
| Population Total: | 11455 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone1: | CET |
| Utc Offset1: | +1 |
| Timezone1 Dst: | CEST |
| Utc Offset1 Dst: | +2 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Postal Code: | 258 01 |
Vlašim (in Czech pronounced as /ˈvlaʃɪm/; German: Wlaschim) 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 its castle and English park.
The villages of Bolina, Domašín, Hrazená Lhota, Nesperská Lhota, Polánka and Znosim are administrative parts of Vlašim.
The name is derived from the personal name Vlašim, meaning "Vlašim's (property)".[2]
Vlašim is located about southeast of Benešov and 45km (28miles) southeast of Prague. It lies in the Vlašim Uplands. The highest point is at 528m (1,732feet) above sea level. The Blanice River flows through the town.
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.[2] [3]
The most significant industrial company in Vlašim is Sellier & Bellot, a manufacturer of ammunition. It employs more than 1,500 people.[4]
Vlašim is located on the Benešov–Trhový Štěpánov railway line.[5]
Vlašim aerodrome, LKVL, has been re-opened in 2019 for national public traffic.
The castle park hosts an annual festival on 1 May, which is a public holiday in the Czech Republic.
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.
The Vlašim Castle is the main landmark of the town. The original Gothic castle was rebuilt in the Renaissance style in the 16th century.[3]