Zons

Zons, formerly known as Feste Zons , today officially called Stadt Zons is an old town in Germany on the west bank of the Lower Rhine between Cologne and Düsseldorf. It has been a part of the town of Dormagen since 1975. In 2010 its population was 5,370.GeographyThe east border of Zons is the river Rhine. The river can be crossed by ferry. On the opposite bank a 3km road leads to Düsseldorf-Urdenbach 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, Rheinfelden. West of Zons is extensive meadows with the willows here and there. At some distance the small hamlet Nachtigall lies at the Bundesstraße 9. Northwest of Zons is the Zons Heath. The northern road leads to Stürzelberg, another part of Dormagen. North of ferry slip and ship pier begins the nature reserve Zonser Grind on the western bank of the Rhine.HistoryMiddle AgesThe first time Zons was mentioned in a document is in the so-called last will and testament of Cunibert, Bishop of Cologne, 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 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.