Visit Zons, Germany: A WWII Travel Stop That Survived the Bombs
The stone walls of Zons catch the morning light just right—cool, golden, quiet. There’s a breeze off the Rhine and a stillness in the air that feels older than the town itself.
I came here because Major Dick Winters did.
A WWII Moment You Can Still Walk Through
In April 1945, with the war nearly over, Winters and Easy Company crossed into Germany and reached the west bank of the Rhine. Cologne—just across the river—had been flattened. Cities he once read about in travel journals had become rubble. But Zons?
Zons had survived.
Winters later wrote:
“After all the destruction I had witnessed, I was elated that Zons had not been destroyed by the air corps or by artillery fire… Cities that I had read about in travel journals when I was young simply no longer existed.”
—Beyond Band of Brothers, p. 210
Unlike the bombed-out urban centers, Zons still had its castle, its walls, and its quiet charm. Founded in the early 1400s, the town had somehow made it through centuries of conflict—WWII included—intact.
What to See in Zons Today
The same sights that Winters saw in 1945 are still there:
- The stone walls that encircle the town
- A sturdy, low-profile castle surrounded by a moat
- Watchtowers and tree-lined paths
- Narrow medieval streets and traditional stone buildings
There’s no plaque marking Winters’ visit. No formal Band of Brothers trail here. But that’s part of the appeal. This is the kind of place that made Winters stop and reflect—and it’s worth doing the same.
Planning Your Visit to Zons
📍 Location: Zons, Germany (south of Düsseldorf, on the west bank of the Rhine)
🚗 Getting There: Easy access by car or regional transit from Düsseldorf or Cologne
📸 Don’t Miss: The castle, the town gate, and the riverside paths
🕰️ Time Needed: Half a day is enough to see the highlights at a relaxed pace
Walk in Their Footsteps
Zons isn’t just a charming town—it’s a living time capsule (learn more here). A reminder of what survived, when so much didn’t.
To explore more WWII sites like this—along with directions, photos, and travel tips—check out the Band of Brothers Travel Guide.
👉 Available now on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DW5C6GRY
👉 Learn more and browse photos:
www.bergsandburgs.com
Photo credit: James Skeffington & Unsplash