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Wels (; 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 approximately 60,000, the eighth largest city in Austria.


Geography

Wels is in the
Hausruckviertel The Hausruckviertel (literally German for the ''Hausruck'' quarter or district) is an Austrian region belonging to the state of Upper Austria: it is one of four "quarters" of Upper Austria the others being Traunviertel, Mühlviertel, and Innvier ...
at an elevation of . From north to south, it extends over , from west to east over . 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 (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 (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 the "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 times because of its central location in the province of Noricum. Around the year 120, Wels received Roman
city A city is a human settlement of notable size.Goodall, B. (1987) ''The Penguin Dictionary of Human Geography''. London: Penguin.Kuper, A. and Kuper, J., eds (1996) ''The Social Science Encyclopedia''. 2nd edition. London: Routledge. It can be def ...
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
bath Bath may refer to: * Bathing, immersion in a fluid ** Bathtub, a large open container for water, in which a person may wash their body ** Public bathing, a public place where people bathe * Thermae, ancient Roman public bathing facilities Plac ...
, 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'' status. At this time, the city had around 18,000 inhabitants. Due to the impending threat of the
Alemanni The Alemanni or Alamanni, were a confederation of Germanic tribes * * * on the Upper Rhine River. First mentioned by Cassius Dio in the context of the campaign of Caracalla of 213, the Alemanni captured the in 260, and later expanded into pres ...
, 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 Passau (; bar, label=Central Bavarian, Båssa) is a city in Lower Bavaria, Germany, also known as the Dreiflüssestadt ("City of Three Rivers") as the river Danube is joined by the Inn from the south and the Ilz from the north. Passau's popu ...
. 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 reforms Emperor
Diocletian Diocletian (; la, Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus, grc, Διοκλητιανός, Diokletianós; c. 242/245 – 311/312), nicknamed ''Iovius'', was Roman emperor from 284 until his abdication in 305. He was born Gaius Valerius Diocles ...
made Ovilava the capital city of the province of ''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 A ( , , ; "investigator") was a public official in Ancient Rome. There were various types of quaestors, with the title used to describe greatly different offices at different times. In the Roman Republic, quaestors were elected officials who ...
'', who managed the city treasury, and a 100-member city council. Ovilava administered an area enclosed by the Inn and Danube, from Lauriacum (Enns) in the east to submitted to Bad Ischl in the west. In this area are included the border fortifications, Linz (Lentia) and
Passau Passau (; bar, label=Central Bavarian, Båssa) is a city in Lower Bavaria, Germany, also known as the Dreiflüssestadt ("City of Three Rivers") as the river Danube is joined by the Inn from the south and the Ilz from the north. Passau's popu ...
(Boiodurum), as well as numerous settlements in what are now the regions of Upper Austria and 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's army. During the time of the Emperor Gallienus the province of Noricum was described as “devastated”. By the time of
Odoacer Odoacer ( ; – 15 March 493 AD), also spelled Odovacer or Odovacar, was a soldier and statesman of barbarian background, who deposed the child emperor Romulus Augustulus and became Rex/Dux (476–493). Odoacer's overthrow of Romulus Augustul ...
, 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. 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"


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 was additionally a 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

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 rivers allowed it to gain an important position in the region. Emperor
Maximilian I Maximilian I may refer to: *Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, reigned 1486/93–1519 *Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria, reigned 1597–1651 *Maximilian I, Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (1636-1689) *Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria, reigned 1795� ...
died in Wels on January 12, 1519, after having been denied access to
Innsbruck Innsbruck (; bar, Innschbruck, label=Bavarian language, Austro-Bavarian ) is the capital of Tyrol (state), Tyrol and the List of cities and towns in Austria, fifth-largest city in Austria. On the Inn (river), River Inn, at its junction with the ...
by its citizens.


20th century

During World War II, a subcamp of Mauthausen concentration camp was located here.Christine O'Keef
. "Concentration Camps"
tartanplace.com; accessed 4 November 2016.
On 18 January 1964, Wels became a
Statutarstadt In Austrian politics, a statutory city (German: ''Stadt mit eigenem Statut'' or ''Statutarstadt'') is a city that is vested, in addition to its purview as a municipality, with the powers and duties of a district administrative authority. The cit ...
of Austria.


Population


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 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

* Alois Auer (1813–1869), printer *
Karin Hannak Karin Hannak (born 1940), is an Austrian artist. Her work includes capillographic, photographic, installation, video and conceptual art Conceptual art, also referred to as conceptualism, is art in which the concept(s) or idea(s) involved in t ...
(born 1940), artist * Josef Friedrich Doppelbauer (1918–1989), composer * Thomas Steiner (born 1956), film director *
Julius Wagner-Jauregg Julius Wagner-Jauregg (; 7 March 1857 – 27 September 1940) was an Austrian physician, who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1927, and is the first psychiatrist to have done so. His Nobel award was "for his discovery of the therapeu ...
(1857–1940), physician, Nobel Prize 1927 * Franz Welser-Möst (born 1960), conductor * Hugo Gerard Ströhl (1851–1919), heraldist * Carl Rabl (1853–1917), physician and anatomist * Grete Hinterhofer (1899–1985), classical pianist and composer was born in Wels * Thomas Christian David (1925–2006), composer and performer *
Werner Kreindl Werner Kreindl (October 20, 1927 – June 6, 1992) was an Austrian television actor. He appeared in around 75 TV programmes between 1966 and his death in 1992. He was probably best known for his appearances in ''SOKO 5113'' from 1978 to 1992. ...
(1927–1992), television actor * Manfred Buchroithner (born 1950), cartographer, geologist and professor * Paul Rübig (born 1953), politician (ÖVP), member of the European Parliament * Christoph Ransmayr (born 1954), writer *
Rudolf Anschober Rudolf Anschober (born 21 November 1960) is an Austrian politician of the The Greens – The Green Alternative, Green Party who served as Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection, Minister of Social Affairs, Health, ...
(born 1960), Austrian politician *
Stefan Sonvilla-Weiss Stefan Sonvilla-Weiss (born 10 April 1961, Wels) is an Austrian communications scholar and art/media educator. He is professor of media design and head of the institute of art and education at the University of Art and Design Linz University of ...
(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 Norbert Trawöger is an Austrian flautist, teacher, writer and designing musician as well as artistic director An artistic director is the executive of an arts organization, particularly in a theatre or dance company, who handles the organizat ...
(born 1971), flautist and artistic director * Christian Mayrleb (born 1972), soccer player, national player and top scorer in the top division in Austria *
Johannes Wipplinger Johannes Wipplinger (born 1 August 1978) is an Austrian bobsledder who has competed since 2004. His best finish in the Bobsleigh World Cup was third in the two-man event at Park City in December 2007. Wipplinger's best finish at the FIBT World Cha ...
(born 1978), athlete and bobsledder * Helge Payer (born 1979), soccer goalkeeper * Emin Sulimani (born 1986), football player *
Robert Žulj Robert Žulj (; born 5 February 1992) is an Austrian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder or forward for LASK. Career Greuther Fürth In July 2014, Žulj joined Greuther Fürth from Red Bull Salzburg. Žulj finished the 2016–1 ...
(born 1992), football player *
Kevin Wimmer Kevin Wimmer (; born 15 November 1992) is an Austrian professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Rapid Wien and the Austria national team. Wimmer began his professional career with LASK where his performances earned him a move to G ...
(born 1992), soccer player * Felix Großschartner (born 1993), cyclist *
Karl Ridderbusch Karl Ridderbusch (29 May 1932 – 21 June 1997) was a German operatic bass (vocal range), bass, associated in particular with the music of Richard Wagner, Wagner. He was recognised as a notable exponent of the role of Die Meistersinger von Nürnber ...
(born 1932), operatic bass


See also

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


References


External links

* (in German): http://www.wels.at {{Authority control Cities and towns in Upper Austria