Ehem. Hutfabrik Blum

The former hat factory in Wels stands in a quiet side street off the city centre. Built in 1874 by Carl Blum, it was run by his son Robert until 1935. After Robert’s daughter Roberta inherited the closed works, she gave the site to the Catholic Church. The diocese now owns the property through its real-estate foundation. Several businesses share the building today, alongside a Caritas-run kindergarten. The factory is one of the few large industrial buildings from the 19th century still standing in Wels. Its brick walls and tall windows show how a hat-making business once operated on three floors. The site’s conversion shows how old factories can be reused without losing their character. Visitors see the original staircases and exposed beams in the shared corridors. The kindergarten occupies the ground floor, where children play under the same roof that once made felt hats. Outside, the street is lined with lime trees and parked bicycles, giving a calm entrance to the lively mix inside.