Short info:
- Where is Wels? 30 minutes by car southwest of Linz, approx. 15 minutes with the Westbahn
- What is there to see? Worth seeing are the Burg & Burggarten, Ledererturm, the Wels town square, the parish church, the Wels zoo, the Welios Science Center, the Wels exhibition center and more.
- What is Wels known for? Wels gained its current economic importance as a trade fair and industrial city and as a transport hub.
- How big is Wels? With 63,181 inhabitants, the city is the second largest city in the federal state of Upper Austria after the state capital Linz.
Generally
With a population of around 63,000, Wels is the eighth largest city in the country. The city is known for its rich history, including the Roman settlement of Ovilava, founded in the 1st century. Today Wels is an important economic center with many industrial and commercial companies. Wös, as the Upper Austrians say themselves, is also an important transport hub and has good connections to other Austrian cities and international destinations. The city is particularly rich in culture and history and offers a mixture of modern architecture and traditional buildings.
Sightseeing features
Wels Castle & Castle Garden
The castle was originally built of wood and was only built of stone in the 12th or 13th century. At the end of the 12th century it was pledged to the Babenbergs. After this family died out, the castle became the property of the Habsburgs. Incidentally, Emperor Maximilian died in Wels Castle in 1519. It was acquired by the Blaimschein family around 1900 before finally being bought by the city of Wels in 1937.
Today, Wels Castle houses one of the most interesting city museums in Upper Austria. A thousand years of eventful history of the city and its inhabitants is vividly presented to visitors through exhibits, models and audio-visual means, beginning in the Middle Ages through the Peasant Wars, Renaissance, Baroque and Biedermeier periods to the present.
A visit to the Burggarten (castle garden) is particularly recommended. The open spaces of the former imperial castle consist of the courtyard and the garden with a raised, narrow terrace along the eastern enclosure wall.
Address: Burggasse 13, 4600 Wels
Ledererturm (leather tower)
The tower was built in the 14th century and is part of the former city fortifications of Wels. The name of the tower derives from the tanners and leatherworkers who worked in the vicinity of the tower in the Middle Ages. Over the centuries, the tower has been rebuilt and renovated several times, so today it features a mix of medieval and baroque architecture.
The Ledererturm is 38 meters high and consists of four floors. On the lower floor there is a vault that was used as a warehouse or prison. Living quarters and viewing platforms are housed on the upper floors.
The tower can only be viewed from the inside during Welser Weihnacht (Christmas in Wels) and on request.
Address: Stadtplatz 58, 4600 Wels
Wels town square
The Wels town square is in the center. It is considered one of the largest and most beautiful city squares in Austria and is the heart of the city.
The square is surrounded by historic buildings from different eras. You can see mostly charming baroque facades from the 17th and 18th centuries. However, the houses themselves are mostly older, which is particularly evident in the courtyards, which date from the Gothic and Renaissance periods. There is a fountain in the center of the square, and in the run-up to Christmas you can find a wonderful Advent market here.
Address: town square
Town parish church
The church was first mentioned in writing in 888, which indicates that there may have been an earlier church. Originally it was dedicated to St. John the Baptist, but a change of patronage was made in the 14th century and the patron saint has been John the Evangelist ever since. The church was built as a Romanesque basilica, but today has mainly Gothic elements, although various other styles can clearly be seen. A sandstone portal from the Romantic period is located in the tower hall. The stained glass windows are masterpieces of Gothic craftsmanship.
Address: Pfarrgasse 27, 4600 Wels
Wels Zoo
The zoo of Wels is home to around 90 animal species with a total of 600 animals on 28,000 m², including many monkeys, native and exotic birds, turtles and native animal species. The Mühlbach flows through the park area, creating numerous ponds. The zoo is free and can be visited as part of a city tour. For children there is a very nice playground with an adjoining buffet. You can feed some animals on site, there are vending machines on site.
Welios Science Center in Wels
The Welios Science Center in Wels is an interactive museum that takes visitors of all ages on a journey through the world of science and technology. Visitors can learn how energy is generated, how the human brain works, how the world of light and color works, and much more through various exhibitions and experiments. The Welios also offers workshops and events on various topics.
Address: Weliosplatz 1, 4600 Wels; https://www.welios.at/
Fair Wels
Various trade fairs on different topics take place regularly in Wels. Among the best known are the energy saving fair, the Agraria, the car fair and the FERIA, the fair for tourism and leisure.
The energy saving fair offers visitors innovative technologies and products on the subject of energy efficiency and sustainability.
Agraria is all about agriculture and animal husbandry, while the Auto Show showcases the latest models and trends in the automotive industry. The FERIA is again dedicated to the topics of travel and leisure and offers a wide range of offers and information for everyone who wants to plan their vacation or spend their free time actively.
Overall, the trade fairs in Wels offer a wide range of exhibitions, lectures and events and are an important contact point for trade visitors and interested parties from all over Austria and beyond.
Tip: if no trade fair is taking place at the exhibition center, it serves as a huge free parking lot in the immediate vicinity of the city!
Address: Messeplatz 1, 4600 Wels; https://messe-wels.at/