Sight-Seeing

Man has lived in Tönisvorst since the early stone age, when todays countryside was covered with forests, small grasslands and wetlands in the lower lying areas. Later on Romans and Germanic tribes settled on this fertile land. They were followed by Frankish tribes and remnants of their settlements are still evident today as they have left the town with many landmarks. Therefore, Toenisvorst is also known as the town of mansions and farmsteads.

Four Frankish fortresses with beautiful ramparts and many farms surrounded with moats cover the landscape. Here you will find the typical lower Rhine landscape of Willow lined streets that invite cycling tours. The surrounding countryside can be explored via quiet country roads, where cycling paths and pedestrian roads lead to the centre of both villages. Interested? There is a bicycle tour, which guides you to the most scenic spots. In St. Toenis, during the summer months, you can even take your bike along for an historic train ride. The locomotive, the majestic “Schluff”, departs from Wilhelmplatz and continues its journey on to Krefeld. If you want to know even more about the City, you may visit our communitiy centres, which have preserved a variety of historical documents.

Local celebrations naturally include Carnival, celebrated mostly in February, followed by the  “Dance into May” on the evening of April 30^th, “Schuetzenfeste of the Brotherhoods” during spring and summer and the “Martinsfest” in the fall. This latter celebration reenacts the beggar scene, where it is said that St. Martin cut his cloak in half and gave it to a beggar to keep him from freezing. For further information click here