Vlašim
Vlašim (Czech pronunciation: [ˈvlaʃɪm]; German: Wlaschim) is a town in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has around 11,500 inhabitants and is situated on the Blanice river, 70 kilometers south-east from the capital, Prague. Vlašim is known for its castle and English style park with many pieces of romantic architecture such as the Chinese pavilion, Old castle and its three gates.
Vlašim | |
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Town | |
Church of Saint Giles | |
Flag Coat of arms | |
Vlašim Location in the Czech Republic | |
Coordinates: 49°42′23″N 14°53′56″E | |
Country | |
Region | Central Bohemian |
District | Benešov |
First mentioned | 1303 |
Government | |
• Mayor | Luděk Jeništa |
Area | |
• Total | 41.43 km2 (16.00 sq mi) |
Elevation | 365 m (1,198 ft) |
Population (2019-01-01[1]) | |
• Total | 11,550 |
• Density | 280/km2 (720/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
Postal code | 258 01 |
Website | www |
History
According to archeologists, the first inhabitants settled here as long as 30 thousand years ago. About 4,000 years ago, the place was inhabited by Celts, and later by Germanic and Slavic peoples. The town of Vlašim was founded in the 13th century. The castle history dates back to 1303. A fortress was built here in 1318 by Hynek of Vlašim. The oldest historical buildings are found around Hus square and Žižka square.
Transport
Vlašim is situated in close proximity to the D1 motorway linking Prague to Brno. Vlašim railway station, situated to the south of the town centre, is situated on the Benešov–Trhový Štěpánov line.
Vlašim aerodrome, LKVL, has been re-opened in 2019 for national public traffic.
Culture
The castle hosts an annual festival on 1 May, which is a state 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.
Climate
Winters in Vlašim area are cold and the countryside is often covered with snow from November, sometimes up until March. Summer and autumn are usually warm.
Economy
Commuting to Prague is very common in Vlašim. The most significant engineering factory in Vlašim is Sellier & Bellot, manufacturing ammunition. Packaging machinery companies are also successful worldwide and employ local people. In 2010, unemployment increased to 6.7% as a result of the recession, which decreased the demand for exported products.
Notable people
- Jan Očko of Vlašim (?–1380), Archbishop of Prague
- Miluše Poupětová (born 1963), artist
- Marcela Krinke-Susmelj (born 1965), Czech-Swiss dressage rider
- Michal Rozsíval (born 1978), ice hockey player
- Michal Řepík (born 1988), ice hockey player
See also
- The Votive Panel of Jan Očko of Vlašim
- House of Vlašim
References
- "Population of municipalities of the Czech republic". Czech Statistical Office. Retrieved 2019-04-30.