Wels-Land: Trails, River Floodplains and Culture

Wels-Land combines river and moorland landscapes with hiking and cycling trails, churches and museums. Its towns and routes offer a variety of ways to explore the region.

Landscapes along the Traun and the moors

The district’s landscape includes gently rolling ridges, small woodland areas, gravel terraces, floodplains and farmland with little urban sprawl. In Wels-Land, the Traun is a local recreation area. In the Fischlham floodplain, the river has been renaturalized and widened, with newly created side channels complementing its course. This has created recreational areas and habitats for people and nature. The floodplain also preserves a system of ponds and pools fed by a high water table. The river, floodplains and water areas thus shape several facets of the landscape.

The trails also reveal different aspects of the region. The trail over Lahholz to the moor offers panoramic views from the Totes Gebirge mountains to the Hausruckviertel. In clear weather, the Hafeld loop offers views of the Salzkammergut mountain range, including the Traunstein. Another trail passes through the moorland and ends at the Neydharting spa hotel. These routes each bring different landscape impressions to the fore: a wide panorama, a weather-dependent view of the mountains, or a walk through a moorland area.

Hiking and cycling trails in different stages

The region’s excursion and leisure portal provides information on more than 70 hiking and cycling trails, with a total length of around 800 kilometers. One longer route is the Wels-Land loop: At around 160 kilometers, it connects all 24 municipalities in the district with the city of Wels. It runs through gently rolling countryside, along rivers and floodplains, and past orchards, historic town centers and important cultural sites. The loop can be explored over several day stages or on individual sections.

This offers a choice of scales: a long circular route that can be divided into stages, and individual trails with a clearly defined destination. For example, the Entenstein hiking trail offers a detour of around 300 meters to the Entenstein natural monument. As trail conditions may change, check locally before setting out. The Traun cycle path R4 can also be identified by its stated river and town references: It heads towards Stadl-Paura and Lambach, home to its Benedictine abbey, then returns to the Traun via Edt bei Lambach and continues along the river to Wels. Construction work or detours may temporarily change route information; check the current route before you ride.

The Fischlham loop runs along the Fischlhamerbach stream and past the parish center with its Fisherman’s Pulpit. The Marchtrenk Peace Trail runs through the town and passes 13 stations. It commemorates the two world wars and the subsequent reconstruction: the trail was established in 2014, and 21 information panels featuring contemporary photographs were installed at 13 prominent locations. As route details can change, it’s worth checking the latest tourist information before your walk.

Churches, museums and cultural attractions

The Church of the Holy Trinity in Stadl-Paura was built from 1714 to 1717. Its floor plan has a distinctive symbolism: a circle enclosed by an equilateral triangle represents the Holy Trinity. The Parish Church of St. Peter in Fischlham offers a different art-historical point of interest. Its Fisherman’s Pulpit was installed in 1759 and depicts the words of Luke: “At your word I will let down the nets” (Luke 5:5). It is considered a notable art-historical treasure and is one of three Fisherman’s Pulpits in Upper Austria.

The Stadl-Paura Boatmen’s Museum focuses on salt transport along the Traun to the Danube. A five-meter-long model shows the navigable canal at the Traunfall waterfall. The Angerlehner Museum focuses on contemporary art: it is a private museum with changing exhibitions. Its collection comprises more than 2,500 works, focusing on Austrian painting after 1945. While the Boatmen’s Museum explores transport history, the Angerlehner offers a glimpse of contemporary art.

The Tempus – Museum of Archaeology covers a period from the Bronze Age to modern times. You’ll find it at Almeggerstraße 5, close to the market square, the Hackenschmiede open-air museum and the Lambach–Vorchdorf local railway station. Another architectural highlight is the Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Mary in Schauersberg: this late Gothic hall church has an attractive half-embedded tower.

Schloss Bernau provides a distinctive setting for cultural events. The Knight’s Hall on the second floor has a magnificent wooden ceiling and, together with its adjoining rooms, serves as a venue for concerts, readings and other cultural events. The castle concerts span a range of musical styles, from classical and jazz to traditional folk music; individual programs vary. The cultural attractions also differ in focus, from architecture and sacred art to archaeology, contemporary art and live events.

Regional products

Farm-run taverns and farm shops are also part of the region’s offering. Visitors can sample regional products directly from producers at numerous businesses. This complements the nature and culture experiences with a chance to discover products from Wels-Land.

Discover more destinations: Wels, Sattledt, Au an der Traun, Weißkirchen an der Traun, Fischlham, Lambach, Marchtrenk, Thalheim bei Wels, Almegg, Bad Wimsbach-Neydharting, Stadl-Traun, Aichkirchen, Bachmanning, Buchkirchen, Eberstalzell, Edt bei Lambach, Gunskirchen, Holzhausen, Krenglbach, Neukirchen bei Lambach, Offenhausen, Pennewang, Pichl bei Wels, Schleißheim, Sipbachzell.

See the overview of the wider region: Upper Austria.