Volary between log houses and the Bohemian Forest

Volary between the Bohemian Forest and Šumava

Volary lies at an elevation of 760 m in a basin characterized by meadows, open plains, and forests, between the thousand-metre-high mountains of the Bohemian Forest. The town lies within the Šumava Protected Landscape Area and on the border of Šumava National Park. When choosing your accommodation, it is therefore worth considering whether you would prefer to combine your stay more with the town’s history or with trails through the protected landscape.

Log houses and town history

The historic centre of Volary, with its log-house architecture, is an urban heritage reserve. In the northern part of the town, numerous preserved log and half-timbered houses in the Alpine style stand along the stream. The early Baroque Church of St Catherine is a focal point on Volary’s square. The Volarské muzeum is located in one of the historic log houses and features permanent exhibitions on the “Pochod smrti”, “Staré Volary ve fotografii”, the “Zlatá stezka”, “Střípky z historie”, and “Křížové cesty”. The memorial to the victims of the death march commemorates 95 Jewish women who died there on 4 May 1945 while being transported from the Ravensbrück and Helmbrechts concentration camps.

Routes for landscapes and discovery

The local route “Alejí na vyhlídku” is 4 km long, has an elevation gain of 110 m, and offers views of the Volary basin and the border mountains. The route “Lukami pod Bobíkem a Jedlovou horou” leads to historic wooden hay barns and offers the opportunity to see a former drying facility for cattle hides. Those wishing to explore the town’s architecture in greater detail can follow the route “Alpská architektura ve Volarech”, which leads through the town and past historic houses in the Alpine style. The public network of running and Nordic walking trails includes the 3.5 km “Menhiry” loop; in total, Volary’s running trail network is 32 km long. The running and walking trails lead through the Šumava Protected Landscape Area.

Traditions and regional destinations

At the annual Volarské slavnosti dřeva, several dozen craftspeople demonstrate old, in some cases almost forgotten, crafts. The festival also includes a traditional march in wooden clogs. The Stations of the Cross at the foot of Kamenáč fell into disrepair after 1945 and was restored in 2008. Another annual public event is Noc kostelů, when churches and other ecclesiastical spaces are opened in the evening and at night for guided tours, concerts, and gatherings. The nearby mountains of Větrný and Křemenná are in the surrounding area; Stožec and Bobík are also located near Volary. Chlumany is an ancient site in the surrounding area, while Schiffler Chapel lies farther afield in the wider region.

Further places for your research

For more travel ideas, you can also take a look at Milesice, Ktis, Drslavice, Chroboly, Nove Hute, Repesin, Račov and Malenice.

For the higher-level travel overview: Okres Prachatice.