Volary is located within the southern part of the Bohemian Forest.
According to archaeological findings, the Šumava area was not significantly populated during the Paleolithic era – the Stone Age (dates back to 9000 BC).
The initial settlements of a more permanent character appeared in the southwest of Bohemia during the Bronze Age (3,000 to 1,000 years BC).
In the 1st century AD, the forest was inhabited by Gallo-Romans as well as by Germanic tribes in its northern part.

The Celts were however gradually forced out by the Germanic tribe (the Marcomanni), who left the Celtic agricultural settlements desolated.
With the departure of the Marcomanni, the forests were left to evolve with almost no human influence.
The Šumava forests began to change character only with the arrival of the Slavs in the 6th century, who found a refuge in the middle of the impenetrable forests.
The cultural landscape began to penetrate the wooded surroundings.
The gradual but disorganized and fairly subtle form of colonisation of the region of Bohemia surrounding Volary continued until the late 11th century when the first mass and more or less organized colonisation of Šumava began, under the rule of Ottokar I of Bohemia.
Since then the nature in Šumava, including the forested landscape developed under the strong influence of human activity.
The borderline virgin forests receded, making way for fields and pastures, and thus in the 13th century, the colonisation of the Bohemian borderland began.

Volary was first documented in 1359 in connection with the Prachatice Councillor Andreas de Wallerii.
At the beginning of the 15th century Volary had grown into the most important part of the Passau salt trade, forming a stage in the Bohemian part of the "Golden Trail" or "Golden Path".
Volary became a market place in that time for traders and travellers on the route.
The Prachatická Golden Trail that passes through Volary is one of the oldest salt routes in Bohemia (some documents state that the Golden Trail was probably used in prehistoric times; the first written records of this important business channel originate from the 11th century).
The Prachatická Golden Trail leads to Old Prachatice (about 70 km in a straight line) from its origin in the south of Passau, Bavaria.

From the 13th century AD until 1945–1946, much of the region around Volary was cohabited with ethnic German Bohemians, many of whom migrated to the region as woodcutters.

Until the Hussite wars Volary was among the possessions of the Vyšehrad Dynasty and then it fell to the royal chamber.
Later, traffic was severely affected in the Golden Path through wandering mercenary gangs.
in 1437 King Sigismund mortgaged the Volary dominion to Jan Smil of Krems.
Jan Smil clashed with Ulrich von Rosenberg in numerous feuds and was taken prisoner in 1439 to the Krumlov castle.
Then Raubritter Habart Lopata of Hrádek seized Volary and used it as a hideout for his raids on by traveling salesmen on the Gold Trail; in 1441 Volary was captured and razed.
In 1444 Ulrich von Rosenberg took possession by means of a forged document the reign Volary, which he in 1457 the brothers Prokop and Johann von Rabenstein left.
From 1503 Volary was again under the control of the Lords of Rosenberg, under which Volary received the right to free extraction of timber and firewood, and the farming of cattle in the stately forests up to a distance of four hours.
In 1506 Peter von Rosenberg granted privileges of exclusive territories between Prachatice and the Bavarian border and Volary was first mentioned as a market town.

During its heyday of the Passau salt trade of the 16th century in Volary there were 13 Pubs and four forges for mule trains.
At that time also took place the construction of the typical local alpine houses.
In 1591 Sigmund Stoeger of Wilhelm von Rosenberg granted the privilege of operating a Spiegelhütte in Volary.
Peter Wok von Rosenberg extended the Volary privileges in 1596 for the right to seize horses and charge foreign Säumer that differed to the detriment of the market from the Golden Path and elsew
Volary is located within the southern part of the Bohemian Forest. According to archaeological findings, the Šumava area was not significantly populated during the Paleolithic era – the Stone Age (dates back to 9000 BC). The initial settlements of a more permanent character appeared in the southwest of Bohemia during the Bronze Age (3,000 to 1,000 years BC). In the 1st century AD, the forest was inhabited by Gallo-Romans as well as by Germanic tribes in its northern part.
The Celts were however gradually forced out by the Germanic tribe (the Marcomanni), who left the Celtic agricultural settlements desolated. With the departure of the Marcomanni, the forests were left to evolve with almost no human influence. The Šumava forests began to change character only with the arrival of the Slavs in the 6th century, who found a refuge in the middle of the impenetrable forests. The cultural landscape began to penetrate the wooded surroundings. The gradual but disorganized and fairly subtle form of colonisation of the region of Bohemia surrounding Volary continued until the late 11th century when the first mass and more or less organized colonisation of Šumava began, under the rule of Ottokar I of Bohemia. Since then the nature in Šumava, including the forested landscape developed under the strong influence of human activity. The borderline virgin forests receded, making way for fields and pastures, and thus in the 13th century, the colonisation of the Bohemian borderland began.
Volary was first documented in 1359 in connection with the Prachatice Councillor Andreas de Wallerii. At the beginning of the 15th century Volary had grown into the most important part of the Passau salt trade, forming a stage in the Bohemian part of the "Golden Trail" or "Golden Path". Volary became a market place in that time for traders and travellers on the route. The Prachatická Golden Trail that passes through Volary is one of the oldest salt routes in Bohemia (some documents state that the Golden Trail was probably used in prehistoric times; the first written records of this important business channel originate from the 11th century). The Prachatická Golden Trail leads to Old Prachatice (about 70 km in a straight line) from its origin in the south of Passau, Bavaria.
From the 13th century AD until 1945–1946, much of the region around Volary was cohabited with ethnic German Bohemians, many of whom migrated to the region as woodcutters.
Until the Hussite wars Volary was among the possessions of the Vyšehrad Dynasty and then it fell to the royal chamber. Later, traffic was severely affected in the Golden Path through wandering mercenary gangs. in 1437 King Sigismund mortgaged the Volary dominion to Jan Smil of Krems. Jan Smil clashed with Ulrich von Rosenberg in numerous feuds and was taken prisoner in 1439 to the Krumlov castle. Then Raubritter Habart Lopata of Hrádek seized Volary and used it as a hideout for his raids on by traveling salesmen on the Gold Trail; in 1441 Volary was captured and razed. In 1444 Ulrich von Rosenberg took possession by means of a forged document the reign Volary, which he in 1457 the brothers Prokop and Johann von Rabenstein left. From 1503 Volary was again under the control of the Lords of Rosenberg, under which Volary received the right to free extraction of timber and firewood, and the farming of cattle in the stately forests up to a distance of four hours. In 1506 Peter von Rosenberg granted privileges of exclusive territories between Prachatice and the Bavarian border and Volary was first mentioned as a market town.
During its heyday of the Passau salt trade of the 16th century in Volary there were 13 Pubs and four forges for mule trains. At that time also took place the construction of the typical local alpine houses. In 1591 Sigmund Stoeger of Wilhelm von Rosenberg granted the privilege of operating a Spiegelhütte in Volary. Peter Wok von Rosenberg extended the Volary privileges in 1596 for the right to seize horses and charge foreign Säumer that differed to the detriment of the market from the Golden Path and elsew
Volary