Zons (), formerly known as Feste Zons ''(
Fortress Zons''), today officially called ''Stadt Zons'' (''Zons Town'') is an old town in
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
on the west bank of the
Lower Rhine
The Lower Rhine (german: Niederrhein; kilometres 660 to 1,033 of the river Rhine) flows from Bonn, Germany, to the North Sea at Hook of Holland, Netherlands (including the Nederrijn or "Nether Rhine" within the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta); al ...
between
Cologne
Cologne ( ; german: Köln ; ksh, Kölle ) is the largest city of the German western state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and the fourth-most populous city of Germany with 1.1 million inhabitants in the city proper and 3.6 millio ...
and
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf ( , , ; often in English sources; Low Franconian and Ripuarian language, Ripuarian: ''Düsseldörp'' ; archaic nl, Dusseldorp ) is the capital city of North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous state of Germany. It is the second- ...
. It has been a part (
Stadtteil
A quarter is a section of an urban settlement.
A quarter can be administratively defined and its borders officially designated, and it may have its own administrative structure (subordinate to that of the city, town or other urban area). Such a ...
) of the town of
Dormagen
Dormagen (; Ripuarian: ''Dormaje'') is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany in the Rhein-Kreis Neuss.
Geography
Dormagen is situated between Düsseldorf – Cologne – Mönchengladbach on the western bank of the river Rhine.
Division of ...
since 1975. In 2020 its population was 5,452.
[
]
Geography
The east border of Zons is the river Rhine
), Surselva, Graubünden, Switzerland
, source1_coordinates=
, source1_elevation =
, source2 = Rein Posteriur/Hinterrhein
, source2_location = Paradies Glacier, Graubünden, Switzerland
, source2_coordinates=
, so ...
. The river can be crossed by ferry. On the opposite bank a road leads to Düsseldorf-Urdenbach
Urdenbach is an urban quarter of Düsseldorf, part of Borough 9. It is located in the south of the city, next to the neighboring town Monheim am Rhein and bordered by the river Rhine.
History
The river Rhine changed its way in the 14th century ...
northeast of Zons. South of Zons is fields and a few Populus trees. The southern road passes two farms and leads to another part of Dormagen, Rheinfeld. West of Zons is extensive meadows with the willow
Willows, also called sallows and osiers, from the genus ''Salix'', comprise around 400 speciesMabberley, D.J. 1997. The Plant Book, Cambridge University Press #2: Cambridge. of typically deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist so ...
s here and there. At some distance the small hamlet Nachtigall lies at the Bundesstraße
''Bundesstraße'' (German for "federal highway"), abbreviated ''B'', is the denotation for German and Austrian national highways.
Germany
Germany's ''Bundesstraßen'' network has a total length of about 40,000 km.
German ''Bundesstraßen'' ...
9. Northwest of Zons is the Zons Heath
A heath () is a shrubland habitat found mainly on free-draining infertile, acidic soils and characterised by open, low-growing woody vegetation. Moorland is generally related to high-ground heaths with—especially in Great Britain—a cooler a ...
. The northern road leads to Stürzelberg, another part of Dormagen. North of ferry slip and ship pier begins the nature reserve
A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, or features of geological or ...
''Zonser Grind'' on the western bank of the Rhine.
History
Middle Ages
The first time Zons was mentioned in a document is in the so-called last will and testament of Cunibert, Bishop of Cologne
The Archbishop of Cologne is an archbishop governing the Archdiocese of Cologne of the Catholic Church in western North Rhine-Westphalia and is also a historical state in the Rhine holding the birthplace of Beethoven and northern Rhineland-Palati ...
, which was written in the middle of the seventh century but is only known in a version of the late eleventh century. In the document the names of ''Zuonizo'' or ''Zuonize'' are mentioned with their origin still unclear until today. In a deed of gift of Archbishop Heribert of Cologne
Heribert of Cologne ( 970 – 16 March 1021), also known as Saint Heribert, was a German Roman Catholic prelate who served as the Archbishop of Cologne from 999 until his death. He also served as the Chancellor for the Emperor Otto III since ...
the name of Zons appears in a location reference, „Burgula bei ''Zünce''“ (Burgula near Zünce)., Burgula being the site of today's ''Haus Bürgel'', an old mansion built on the ruins of a Roman settlement.
Archaeological finds indicate that there was a Merovingian
The Merovingian dynasty () was the ruling family of the Franks from the middle of the 5th century until 751. They first appear as "Kings of the Franks" in the Roman army of northern Gaul. By 509 they had united all the Franks and northern Gauli ...
settlement in Zons in the seventh century, yet its exact location is not determined. Documents verify a ''Fronhof'' of the archbishop of Cologne (Fronhof = estate of a feudal lord receiving socage
Socage () was one of the feudal duties and land tenure forms in the English feudal system. It eventually evolved into the freehold tenure called "free and common socage", which did not involve feudal duties. Farmers held land in exchange for cle ...
) existing in Zons at least since the beginning of the twelfth century . In the 1980s archaeological excavations in the castle area uncovered foundations of buildings which are regarded as remains of the