Wels Between City History and the Zoo

Wels showcases its history in the Stadtplatz, its museums and at Ledererturm, the only surviving one of the four former city towers. Also nearby are the zoo, a city park close to the centre, and the Traun Cycle Path along the river. Culture, wildlife watching and cycling offer different ways to experience the city. If you’re looking for a holiday apartment in Wels, you can plan your stay around whichever of these aspects of the city appeals to you most.

Stadtplatz, Towers and a Walking Tour

Wels’s Stadtplatz is lined with 64 town houses and, with its cohesive architecture, is considered one of Austria’s most beautiful street squares. Markets have been held there since the Middle Ages, mainly trading in livestock and agricultural produce. The square’s harmonious design and long market tradition come together here: you can discover Wels through both its architecture and its trading history.

Ledererturm stands at the end of the Stadtplatz. It is the only surviving one of Wels’s four former city towers; the other three were lost in the 19th century. The short Wels walking tour starts at Ledererturm and is rated very easy. The route therefore combines a clearly identified starting point with the history of a building that also serves as a reminder of the vanished towers.

Museums and Historic Architecture

Wels’s municipal museums present history, art and archaeology at two central locations: Wels Castle and the former Minorite Monastery. At the Wels City Museum – Castle, models and dioramas show how the city developed. The Archaeological Collection of the Wels City Museum at the Minorite Monastery covers early history from the Neolithic period to the time of the Bavarians. This brings together an account of the city’s development and a broad archaeological sweep of time. If you’re planning a museum visit, check the current locations and exhibitions.

The Wels Minorite Monastery was founded around 1280 by the Wels Polheim family. The choir of Wels’s Minorite Church was built around 1300 and has retained its original form, with massive buttresses and a rib-vaulted ceiling. These details link the monastery’s foundation to specific features of medieval architecture. The Roman Road Ovilava adds a different era to the historical picture: a replica of a Roman house façade on Almgasse is part of the route. In Wels, Roman architecture and medieval urban history are therefore distinct themes to explore.

Zoo and Cycling Route

Wels Zoo is a city park close to the centre, with native and exotic animals as well as many playgrounds. For families planning an outing that combines seeing animals with time to play, it offers an alternative to museums and city history. Your choice of activities for the day can depend on whether you’re more interested in culture, wildlife watching or spending time in the park.

If you’d like to explore Wels by bike, the Traun Cycle Path R4 is a clearly signposted route: it is marked as R4 in Upper Austria’s regional cycling network and follows the Traun towards Wels. Its riverside route and designation distinguish it from the short walking tour starting at Ledererturm. If you’re planning the ride, check the latest route information.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Wels, you can start by deciding what kind of holiday pace you’d like: historic city sights and museums, the zoo and playgrounds, or cycling along the Traun. This will help you choose a destination based on the experiences you want to shape your trip.

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Back to the regional travel overview: Wels-Land.