Wels

For other uses, seeWels (disambiguation).

Not to be confused withWells.

Wels Meta-Wös
City
From top down, left to right: view of Wels fromThalheim,Stadtplatzin the city center,Ledererturm,city parish church, former savings bank,Burg Wels
Flag Coat of arms
Wels Location within Austria Wels Wels (Austria)
Coordinates:48°09′0″N14°01′0″E
Country	Austria
State	Upper Austria
District	Statutory city
Government
•Mayor	Dr. Andreas Rabl (FPÖ)
Area
•City	45.92 km2(17.73 sq mi)
Elevation	317 m (1,040 ft)
Population (2018-01-01)
•City	61,233
• Density	1,300/km2(3,500/sq mi)
•Metro	88,577
Time zone	UTC+1(CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2(CEST)
Postal code	4600–4606
Area code	07242
Vehicle registration	WE
Website	wels.at

Wels(German pronunciation:[vɛls];Central Bavarian:Wös) is a city inUpper Austria,on theTraun RivernearLinz.It is thecounty seatofWels-Land,and with a population of approximately 60,000, theeighth largest city in Austria.

Geography

Wels is in theHausruckviertelat an elevation of 317 metres (1,040 ft). From north to south, it extends over 9.5 kilometres (5.9 mi), from west to east over 9.6 kilometres (6.0 mi). 3.4% of the area is covered with forest, 23.5% is used for agriculture.

The town comprises the following boroughs: Aichberg, Au, Berg, Brandln, Dickerldorf, Doppelgraben, Eben, Gaßl, Höllwiesen, Hölzl, Kirchham, Laahen, Lichtenegg, Mitterlaab, Nöham, Niederthan, Oberhaid, Oberhart, Oberlaab, Oberthan, Pernau, Puchberg, Roithen, Rosenau, Schafwiesen, Stadlhof, Trausenegg, Unterleithen, Waidhausen, Wels, Wimpassing, Wispl.

History

Prehistoric

The area of Wels has been settled since theNeolithicera (between 3500 and 1700 B.C.E.), as evidenced by archaeological finds of simple tools, especially from around the banks of the Traun River in what is now the city center.

ABronze Age(after 1700 B.C.E.) cemetery was found in the area of the current airport and dated to the time of theUrnfield Culture(1100–750 B.C.E.). It contained 60 graves with such items as bronze jewelry and food.

Swords from theHalstattPeriod (750–400 B.C.E.) have been found in the area of Pernau.

During the Iron AgeLa Tène Culture(up to 100 B.C.E.)Celtsinhabited the area, leaving behind gold coins, swords, earthenware and iron brooches. The name "Traun" comes from this time, and it is possible that "Wels" is similarly of Celtic origin. The name "Wels" could be Celtic for "Settlement on the bend of the Traun River".

Roman Era

Wels gained importance inRomantimes because of its central location in the province ofNoricum.Around the year 120, Wels received Romancityrights under the name ofMunicipium Ovilava.The enclosed built-up area by the Traun River was at the present level of Kaiser-Josef-Platz. There were brick houses, abath,an arena and an irrigation system of pure mountain water brought from beyond the Traun.

Around 215, during the reign of EmperorCaracalla,it was renamedColonia Aurelia Antoniana Ovilabisand givenColoniastatus. At this time, the city had around 18,000 inhabitants.

Due to the impending threat of theAlemanni,the city was surrounded by a city wall that enclosed an area of about 90 hectares and a road was built along theDanubetoPassau.It is known that six towers with gates were integrated into the walls, controlling entrances from along the western road, towards the Traun, and to the fields beyond the city.

As part of hisreformsEmperorDiocletianmade Ovilava the capital city of the province ofNoricum Ripensis.It was governed by twoduumviriwho served as municipal judges, twoaediles,who advocated compliance with the laws and market rights, aquaestor,who managed the city treasury, and a 100-member city council.

Ovilava administered an area enclosed by theInnand Danube, from Lauriacum(Enns)in the east to submitted toBad Ischlin the west. In this area are included the border fortifications,Linz(Lentia) andPassau(Boiodurum), as well as numerous settlements in what are now the regions ofUpper AustriaandSalzburg.

During the early migration period (3rd, 4th and 5th century), the area around Ovilava was often invaded by the Alamanni,Vandalsand other Germanic tribes as well as byAttila'sarmy. During the time of the EmperorGallienusthe province of Noricum was described as “devastated”. By the time ofOdoacer,the first Germanic King of Italy, Noricum was described as “vacant”. From the 4th century onward, it is likely that Wels was again a small and insignificant village for several centuries.

• 
  A medallion from a Roman grave reused in a house in Wels
• 
  Remnant of the Roman walls of Wels, Schubertstrasse
• 
  The "Venus of Wels"

The economy of Roman Wels

Agriculture and regional trade formed the basis for the economy of Ovilava. While most agriculture was subsistence level, cows and horses were produced in large enough numbers to be exported. The oldest granary in the Eastern Alps has been discovered in Wels, which housed diverse grains such as wheat,dwarf wheat,emmer wheat,barley and rye. There were additionally significant brick and pottery works as well as mines for construction stone.

Due to its situation at an important crossing of several Roman roads, both east-to-west and to the south, archeology reveals a large number of objects manufactured in other areas of the empire, such asTerra Sigillatapottery and statuettes (such as the "Venus of Wels" ) fromGaulandGermania Inferior,as well as oyster shells and coins from Italy.

Middle Ages

Wels served as a minor trading centre during theMiddle Ages.In 943, the Hungarians were defeated by the Bavarians and Carantanians at theBattle of Wels.In 1222, during the rule of theBabenbergerfamily, Wels again received city rights. A document dating to 1328 provides evidence for Wels' important role as the location of a market. Its endowment with economic privileges, and its advantageous position on severalriversallowed it to gain an important position in the region.

EmperorMaximilian Idied in Wels on January 12, 1519, after having been denied access toInnsbruckby its citizens.

20th century

Water tower Wels

DuringWorld War II,a subcamp ofMauthausen concentration campwas located here.

On 18 January 1964, Wels became aStatutarstadtof Austria.

Population

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1869	11,704	—
1880	13,175	+12.6%
1890	14,735	+11.8%
1900	17,308	+17.5%
1910	22,015	+27.2%
1923	24,248	+10.1%
1934	25,956	+7.0%
1939	29,533	+13.8%
1951	38,120	+29.1%
1961	41,060	+7.7%
1971	47,527	+15.8%
1981	51,060	+7.4%
1991	52,478	+2.8%
2001	55,478	+5.7%
2011	58,713	+5.8%
2014	59,339	+1.1%

Economy

There are about 36,000 people employed in Wels. Of that, about 63% are in the service sector. Wels is known as an important city for shopping and the location of severalgymnasiums (academic secondary schools)and higher vocational schools and also of avocational college.Furthermore, it is famous for theWels Fair,which takes place every year in autumn and spring.

Notable residents

Alois Auer

Sybil Danning,2018

Othmar Commenda,2013

• Alois Auer(1813–1869), printer, inventor and botanical illustrator.
• Heinrich Brunner(1840–1915), historian.
• Hugo Gerard Ströhl(1851–1919), heraldist
• Carl Rabl(1853–1917), physician and anatomist
• Julius Wagner-Jauregg(1857–1940), physician, winner ofNobel Prize in Physiology or Medicinein 1927
• Grete Hinterhofer(1899–1985), classical pianist and composer
• Walter Kolneder(1910–1994), musicologist and violist.
• Josef Friedrich Doppelbauer(1918–1989), composer, organist and choral conductor.
• Thomas Christian David(1925–2006), composer and performer
• Werner Kreindl(1927–1992), television actor
• Karl Ridderbusch(1932–1997), operatic bass, lived and died locally
• Herbert Lindinger(born 1933), graphic artist, exhibition & industrial designer; designs trains and trams
• Lukas David(1934–2021), a classical violinist.
• Karin Hannak(born 1940), artist
• Sybil Danning(born 1947), an Austrian–American actress, model, and film producer.
• Manfred Buchroithner(born 1950), cartographer, geologist and professor
• Paul Rübig(born 1953), politician (ÖVP), member of theEuropean Parliament
• Christoph Ransmayr(born 1954), writer
• Othmar Commenda(born 1954), retired General of theAustrian Armed Forcesworked locally
• Thomas Steiner(born 1956), film director
• Franz Welser-Möst(born 1960), conductor, grew up locally
• Rudolf Anschober(born 1960), Austrian politician
• Stefan Sonvilla-Weiss(born 1961), communication scientist and arts and media educator
• Götz Spielmann(born 1961), film director and screenwriter
• Sabine Derflinger(born 1963), director, writer, producer and dramaturgical consultant
• Norbert Trawöger(born 1971), flautist and artistic director
• Christoph Wigelbeyer(born 1973), choir director, conductor, singer and music educator.

Sport

Marcel Sabitzer,2020

• Max Hagmayr(born 1956), retired footballer, played 286 games and 9 forAustria
• Christoph Sieber(born 1971), sailor, gold medallist in the Mistral class at the2000 Summer Olympics
• Christian Mayrleb(born 1972), footballer, top scorer in the top division; played 584 games and 30 forAustria
• Johannes Wipplinger(born 1978), athlete and bobsledder
• Helge Payer(born 1979), football goalkeeper, played 271 games and 20 forAustria
• Robert Žulj(born 1992), footballer played over 300 games
• Kevin Wimmer(born 1992), football player, played 220 games and 9 forAustria
• Felix Großschartner(born 1993), cyclist
• Robert Žulj(born 1992), footballer, played over 300 games
• Peter Žulj(born 1993), footballer, played over 300 games and 11 forAustria
• Marcel Sabitzer(born 1994), footballer, played 370 games and 77 forAustria
• Shamil Borchashvili(born 1995), Austrian judoka; bronze meadllist at the2020 Summer Olympics

See also

• FC Wels
• Wels Airport
• Trodat
• TGW Logistics Group
• Wels-Land

External links

• (in German):http:// wels.at