View source for Wels

{{Short description|City in Upper Austria, Austria}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Dist|Wells (disambiguation){{!}}Wells|Wales}}
{{Expand German|topic=geo|Wels (Stadt)|date=March 2009}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name            = Wels
| native_name     = Meta-Wös
| settlement_type = [[Statutory city (Austria)|Statutory city]]
<!-- Images     -->
| image_skyline   = {{Photomontage|position=center
 | photo1a = Wels - Ansicht v Marienwarte - 2023 11 02-2.jpg
 | photo2a = Gebäude Stadtplatz Wels September 2013.jpg
 | photo3a = Wels - Ledererturm.JPG
 | photo3b = Wels - Stadtpfarrkirche.JPG
 | photo3c = Wels - Innere Stadt - Pollheimerstraße Medienkulturhaus - 2023 11 02.jpg
 | photo4a = Burg Wels - Kaiser Maximilian.jpg
 | size = 250
 | spacing = 2
 | color = #FFFFFF
 | border = 0
 | foot_montage = From top down, left to right: view of Wels from [[Thalheim bei Wels|Thalheim]], ''Stadtplatz'' in the city center, ''Ledererturm'', city parish church, former savings bank, ''Burg Wels''}}
| image_flag      = Flag of Wels.gif
| image_shield    = Wels coat of arms.svg
| shield_size     = 90px
| shield_link     = 
<!-- Maps           -->
| pushpin_map         = Austria Upper Austria#Austria
| pushpin_mapsize     = 270
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Austria
| image_map           = 
| mapsize             = 
| map_alt             =
| map_caption         = Location within Statutarstadt district
<!-- Location    -->
| coordinates       = {{coord|48|09|0|N|14|01|0|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type  = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name  = {{AUT}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States of Austria|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Upper Austria}}
| subdivision_type2 = [[District (Austria)|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Statutory city (Austria)|Statutory city]]
| parts_type        = 
| parts_style       = para
| p1                = 
<!-- Leaders -->
| leader_title  = [[Burgomaster|Mayor]]
| leader_name   = Dr. Andreas Rabl
| leader_party  = {{Polparty|Austria| FPÖ }}
| leader_title1 = 
| leader_name1  = 
<!-- Statistics -->
| area_footnotes   = {{Austria population Wikidata|area_footnotes}}
| area_total_km2   = {{Austria population Wikidata|area_total_km2}}
| area_metro_km2   = 
| elevation_m      = 317
| elevation_max_m  = 
| population_as_of = {{Austria population Wikidata|population_as_of}}
| population_footnotes = {{Austria population Wikidata|population_footnotes}}
| population_total = {{Austria population Wikidata|population_total}}
| elevation_min_m  = 
| population_urban =  
| population_metro =  88,577
| population_note  = 
| population_density_km2 = auto
| established_title = 
| established_date  = 
| timezone          = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| timezone_DST      = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset        = +1
| utc_offset_DST    = +2
| registration_plate = [[Vehicle registration plates of Austria|WE]]
| postal_code_type   = [[List of postal codes in Austria|Postal code]]
| postal_code        = 4600–4606
| area_code_type = [[Telephone numbers in Austria|Area code]]
| area_code      = 07242
| website   = [http://www.wels.at www.wels.at]
| footnotes = 
}}
'''Wels''' ({{IPA|de|vɛls|-|De-Wels.ogg}}; [[Central Bavarian]]: ''Wös'') is a city in [[Upper Austria]], on the [[Traun River]] near [[Linz]]. It is the [[county seat]] of [[Wels-Land]], and with a population of 65,482 (January 2025)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bevölkerung zu Jahres-/Quartalsanfang |url=https://www.statistik.at/statistiken/bevoelkerung-und-soziales/bevoelkerung/bevoelkerungsstand/bevoelkerung-zu-jahres-/-quartalsanfang |access-date=2025-08-24 |website=STATISTIK AUSTRIA |language=de-AT}}</ref>, the [[List of cities and towns in Austria|eighth largest city in Austria]].

== Geography ==
Wels is in the [[Hausruckviertel]] at an elevation of {{Convert|317|m|ft}}. From north to south, it extends over {{Convert|9.5|km|mi}}, from west to east over {{Convert|9.6|km|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 the [[Neolithic]] era (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.

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

Swords from the [[Halstatt]] Period (750–400 B.C.E.) have been found in the area of Pernau.

During the Iron Age [[La Tène culture|La Tène Culture]] (up to 100 B.C.E.) [[Celts]] inhabited 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 in [[Roman Empire|Roman]] times because of its central location in the province of [[Noricum]]. Around the year 120, Wels received Roman [[city]] rights under the name of ''Municipium Ovilava''. The enclosed built-up area by the Traun River was at the present level of Kaiser-Josef-Platz. There were brick houses, a [[thermae|bath]], an arena and an irrigation system of pure mountain water brought from beyond the Traun.

Around 215, during the reign of Emperor [[Caracalla]], it was renamed ''Colonia Aurelia Antoniana Ovilabis'' and given ''[[Colonia (Roman)|Colonia]]'' status. At this time, the city had around 18,000 inhabitants.

Due to the impending threat of the [[Alemanni]], the city was surrounded by a city wall that enclosed an area of about 90 hectares and a road was built along the [[Danube]] to [[Passau]]. 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 his [[Diocletian#Reforms|reforms]] Emperor [[Diocletian]] made Ovilava the capital city of the province of [[Noricum|''Noricum Ripensis'']]. It was governed by two ''[[duumviri]]'' who served as municipal judges, two ''[[aediles]]'', who advocated compliance with the laws and market rights, a ''[[quaestor]]'', who managed the city treasury, and a 100-member city council.

Ovilava administered an area enclosed by the [[Inn (river)|Inn]] and Danube, from Lauriacum [[Enns (city)|(Enns)]] in the east to submitted to [[Bad Ischl]] in the west. In this area are included the border fortifications, [[Linz]] (Lentia) and [[Passau]] (Boiodurum), as well as numerous settlements in what are now the regions of [[Upper Austria]] and [[Salzburg (state)|Salzburg]].

During the early migration period (3rd, 4th and 5th century), the area around Ovilava was often invaded by the Alamanni, [[Vandals]] and other Germanic tribes as well as by [[Attila|Attila's]] army. During the time of the Emperor [[Gallienus]] the province of Noricum was described as “devastated”. By the time of [[Odoacer]], 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.<ref>Dr. Renate Miglbauer: [http://www.ooegeschichte.at/Ovilava-Das-roemische-Wels.470.0.html "Ovilava - Das römische Wels"], ooegeschichte.at, 8 February 2012.</ref>

<gallery widths="200px" heights="160px">
File:Römermedaillon Wels.JPG|A medallion from a Roman grave reused in a house in Wels
File:Römische Stadtmauer in Wels.jpg|Remnant of the Roman walls of Wels, Schubertstrasse
File:Venus von Wels.jpg|The "Venus of Wels"
</gallery>

====The economy of Roman Wels====
{{unsourced|section|date=November 2016}}
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 as [[Terra Sigillata]] pottery and statuettes (such as the "Venus of Wels") from [[Gaul]] and [[Germania Inferior]], as well as oyster shells and coins from Italy.

===Middle Ages===
{{unsourced|section|date=November 2016}}
Wels served as a minor trading centre during the [[Middle Ages]]. In 943, the Hungarians were defeated by the Bavarians and Carantanians at the [[Battle of Wels]]. In 1222, during the rule of the [[Babenberger]] family, 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 several [[river]]s allowed it to gain an important position in the region.

[[Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor]] [[Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor|Maximilian I]] died in Wels on January 12, 1519, after having been denied access to [[Innsbruck]] by its citizens.

===20th century===
[[File:Wasserturm Wels1.jpg|thumb|180px|Water tower Wels]]

During [[World War II]], a subcamp of [[Mauthausen concentration camp]] was located here.<ref>Christine O'Keefe [http://www.tartanplace.com/tartanhistory/concentrationcamps.html . "Concentration Camps"], tartanplace.com; accessed 4 November 2016.</ref>

On 18 January 1964, Wels became a [[Statutarstadt]] of Austria.
==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
|align=left
|1869|11704
|1880|13175
|1890|14735
|1900|17308
|1910|22015
|1923|24248
|1934|25956
|1939|29533
|1951|38120
|1961|41060
|1971|47527
|1981|51060
|1991|52478
|2001|55478
|2011|58713
|2021|62,654
|2025|65,482}}
{{clear}}

==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 several [[Gymnasium (school)|gymnasiums (academic secondary schools)]] and higher vocational schools and also of a [[vocational college]]. Furthermore, it is famous for the [[Wels Fair]], which takes place every year in autumn and spring.

==Notable residents==
[[File:Alois Auer.jpg|thumb|140px|[[Alois Auer]]]]
[[File:Sybil Danning (2018).png|thumb|140px|[[Sybil Danning]], 2018]]
[[File:Gala-Nacht des Sports 2013 Wien red carpet Othmar Commenda.jpg|thumb|140px|[[Othmar Commenda]], 2013]]
* [[Alois Auer]] (1813–1869), printer, inventor and botanical illustrator<ref>{{Cite NIE |wstitle= Auer, Alois |volume= II | page= 239 |short=1}}</ref>
* [[Heinrich Brunner]] (1840–1915), historian<ref>{{Cite EB1911 |wstitle= Brunner, Henry |last= |first= |author-link= |volume= 4 |page= 685 |short=1}}</ref>
* [[Hugo Gerard Ströhl]] (1851–1919), heraldist
* [[Carl Rabl]] (1853–1917), physician and anatomist
* [[Julius Wagner-Jauregg]] (1857–1940), physician, winner of [[Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine]] in 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), 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 the [[European Parliament]]
* [[Christoph Ransmayr]] (born 1954), writer
* [[Othmar Commenda]] (born 1954), retired General of the [[Austrian Armed Forces]] worked locally 
* [[Thomas Steiner (director)|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 ===
[[File:Marcel Sabitzer 2020 (cropped).jpg|thumb|140px|[[Marcel Sabitzer]], 2020]]
* [[Max Hagmayr]] (born 1956), retired footballer, played 286 games and 9 for [[Austria national football team|Austria]] 
* [[Christoph Sieber]] (born 1971), sailor, gold medallist in the Mistral class at the [[2000 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Christian Mayrleb]] (born 1972), footballer, top scorer in the top division; played 584 games and 30 for [[Austria national football team|Austria]] 
* [[Johannes Wipplinger]] (born 1978), athlete and bobsledder
* [[Helge Payer]] (born 1979), football goalkeeper, played 271 games and 20 for [[Austria national football team|Austria]] 
* [[Robert Žulj]] (born 1992), footballer played over 300 games
* [[Kevin Wimmer]] (born 1992), football player, played 220 games and 9 for [[Austria national football team|Austria]] 
* [[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 for [[Austria national football team|Austria]]
* [[Marcel Sabitzer]] (born 1994), footballer, played 370 games and 77 for [[Austria national football team|Austria]]
* [[Shamil Borchashvili]] (born 1995), Austrian judoka; bronze meadllist at the [[Judo at the 2020 Summer Olympics|2020 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Emma Felbermayr]] (born 2007), racing driver

==See also==
{{colbegin}}
*[[FC Wels]]
*[[Wels Airport]]
*[[Trodat]]
*[[TGW Logistics Group]]
*[[Wels-Land]]
{{colend}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{wikivoyage|Wels}}
* (in German): http://www.wels.at
{{Principal cities of Austria}}
{{Upper Austria}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Wels| ]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Upper Austria]]