Vlašim is a town known primarily for the English park surrounding the castle that used to be owned by the Auerspag family.
The city was founded at the beginning of the 14th century and soon the first castle was built here. In later centuries, the stronghold was rebuilt many times, and in the 17th century it acquired the features of a magnate residence. The last major modernization took place in the 19th century and it is now a neoclassical palace with earlier elements. It houses the Museum of the Blanik region. Around the castle there is a 19th-century English-style park with numerous elements of small garden and park architecture, such as neo-Gothic gates, gazebos, artificial ruins or a Chinese pavilion.
The ParaZOO is also an attraction of Vlašim. It is a small zoo operating at a rehabilitation center for animals. Here you can see mainly birds and mammals inhabiting Czech territory, including otters, carne storks, roe deer and many types of owls.
