The Wehrgraben is the old industrial canal of Steyr — a man-made arm of the Steyr river that once powered the city's grindstones, hammers, and forges. After the iron industry left, the area decayed, but a citizens' campaign in the 1980s saved it from demolition; today it is a quiet district of restored workshops, narrow lanes, and small craft businesses.
Walking along the Wehrgraben from the Stadtplatz to the Steyrtor gate is the best way to feel the city's industrial history without entering a museum. The Museum Arbeitswelt at the southern end picks up the same theme; the canal walk is free.