Vlašim Château Park It is 1744, and the very young owner of the Vlašim Estate Marie Josefa, the Countess of Trautson and Falkenstein, has married Karel Josef, the Count of Auersperg. Vlašim Château is the family residence of this young couple. From historical experience it could be said that the most important changes in an estate always happen in the first years after a young new owner takes over. Vlašim was an unusual exception. The château stayed the same as it did in 1665, when it was surrounded with fortifications, and a game preserve extended beyond it. Fundamental changes took place 30 years later, when the Auerspergs were in their fifties.          In 1771 the walls, including the corner bastions, were demolished. This is shown on a map of the First Military Survey that was carried out on the basis of an order of Maria Theresa in the 1760s. The measurements were inaccurate and so were rectified 20 years later, while being updated to reflect the then current state of the estate. The battlements that were mapped in the 1760s had been already demolished when the alterations were made. The erasure made around the château is clearly visible.        The château was directly connected to the surrounding countryside when the ramparts were demolished and the moat was filled up. This was probably the first step in converting the existing enclosure into a park. Before this change could be completed it was necessary to create a new reserve, which was established near Vlašim, in the Domašín Hills, in 1775. A pavilion was built to give beautiful views over the picturesque surroundings. It was situated in an elevated position, on a summit, at the crossing of the forest paths. This can be seen on a cut out from a map known as “František's Survey”, made during the Second Military Survey. After the new game preserve was created the Auerspergs started to establish a Romantic style park in the attractive and complex landscape. The area of the former enclosure consists of a grassy valley, and the River Blanice flows along one side of it, with a mill race on the other side. The terrain rises up on both sides of the valley, either to an upland area or to interesting rock formations, with the increase in height reaching 40 metres.           Major alterations to the course of the River Blanice were carried out. The river basin was enlarged at the widest point in the floodplain and changed into a river lake with an islet. A rich network of paths was created all over the park. With regard to planting, a large number of additional avenues were planted, both along the main paths and along the River Blanice and the Mlýnský stream. In addition to this, trees were planted in roundels, which created areas with an intimate charm and a self-contained form. The level surface of the entrance area of the park, between the château and the Old Castle, was changed in this way. Three round wooden summer-houses were built in this part of the park. Oaks, and strains of black poplars, predominated along the avenues, and exposed places were decorated with rich flower beds.      However, the park became very popular mainly thanks to its minor architectural features, which as mentioned above, were inspired by the antique and Gothic periods, the Orient, and nature and other examples, which completely echoed the Romantic style park in the late 18th century. Individual features were gradually built between 1775 and 1785.      1.      Moor’s Arbour and fountain 2.      Mineral Spring (later changed into the Venetian Well) 3.      Three round wooden summer-houses 4.      Place of Friendship 5.      Old Castle 6.      Wild Bridge 7.      Fisherman’s House and three ponds 8.      Grotto 9.      The Bards’ Grove - places with statues or monuments 10.      Small Lake with Fountain 11.      Bacchus 12.      Main Lookout Tower on Holzstoss 13.      Hermitage, Samson's Column and Fount of the Virgins 14.      The Minstrel's Grove 15.      Dutch Orchard 16.      Turkish Mosque 17.      Chinese Pavilion with Tower 18.      Four Aviaries with Minaret 19.      Bathing pool with a small bridge over the River Blanice 20.      Cupid's Temple 21.      House of the Night 22.      Canary Island        The château and park are now owned by the town of Vlašim, which cares for them in the very best way and makes every effort ensure their accessibility to the public.