The Story of Wels
The city of Wels was an ancient settlement, and its name probably comes from the Celtic language. Wels in Celtic means “the settlement on the bend of the Traun River.”
Archaeological findings in the area of the Traun River, which flows through the city, indicate settlement as early as the Neolithic period. The settlement in the area became important during the rule of the Roman Empire over the region. In the Roman period, it was considered a central place in the province of Noricum and was granted city rights. The city’s inhabitants subsisted mainly on agriculture and trade. The abundance in Wels even made it possible to export cattle to nearby areas. There were also mines and various workshops engaged in the production of bricks and tableware.
In the Middle Ages, the city was a trade center with a market for merchants from the entire region. In the 16th century, Emperor Maximilian I lived there for a short period after he was forbidden to return to Innsbruck. The emperor died in Wels in 1519.
During World War II, there was a small concentration camp in the city, which was affiliated with the main camp in Mauthausen.
Today, Wels serves as a small industrial center and is the eighth-largest city in Austria, with about 65,000 inhabitants.
Attractions in the City
Wels is not as impressive as other ancient cities in the area, but in the city center, there are several old buildings with interesting designs. There is also a central church and a small castle with well-kept gardens. The main attraction in the city is the zoo.
The Wels Zoo (Welser Tiergarten)
In the heart of the city, there is a zoo complex that is open all year round, and admission is free. It is the oldest zoo in Upper Austria, operating since 1930.
The zoo area is not particularly large, but it has about 100 species of animals in 4 areas divided by themes – water, forest, prairie, and domesticated animals. The animals in the zoo are not only from Austria but from all over the world. There are tours and explanations within the zoo.
You can feed the deer and goats with food provided to visitors at the zoo.
Here is a short introduction to the zoo
Additional Essential Information for Visiting the Zoo
Opening Hours:
- From mid-March to mid-October: from 7:00 AM to 7:45 PM.
- From mid-October to mid-March: from 8:00 AM to 4:45 PM.
Entrance Fee:
Free
Address: Maria-Theresia-Straße 33, 4600 Wels
Map:
Other Attractions in the Wels Area
A 30-minute drive from Wels is the capital of the state of Upper Austria – the city of Linz. The city has the largest church in Austria and a nice old center. Read more about Linz.
If you want to visit a larger and more impressive zoo, you can visit the Schmiding Zoo, which is a 15-minute drive from the center of Wels. Read more about the Schmiding Zoo.
