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Neuss

Neuss
Town hall
Town hall
Coat of arms of Neuss
Coat of arms
Neuss  is located in Germany
Neuss
Neuss
Coordinates: 51°12′N 6°42′E / 51.200°N 6.700°E / 51.200; 6.700Coordinates: 51°12′N 6°42′E / 51.200°N 6.700°E / 51.200; 6.700
Country Germany
State North Rhine-Westphalia
Admin. region Düsseldorf
District Rhein-Kreis Neuss
Government
 • Mayor (SPD)
Area
 • Total 99.48 km2 (38.41 sq mi)
Population (2015-12-31)
 • Total 155,414
 • Density 1,600/km2 (4,000/sq mi)
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes 41460-41472
Dialling codes 02131, 02137 (Norf), 02182
Vehicle registration NE
Website www.neuss.de
Largest groups of foreign residents
Nationality Population (2013)
 Turkey 5,864
 Greece 1,429
 Poland 1,218
 Portugal 1,125
 Serbia & Montenegro 1,016
 Italy 909

Neuss (German pronunciation: [ˈnɔʏs]; spelled Neuß until 1968; Limburgish: Nüss; Latin: Novaesium) is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located on the west bank of the Rhine opposing Düsseldorf. Neuss is the largest city within the Rhein-Kreis Neuss district. It is primarily known for its historic Roman sites, as well as the annual Neusser Bürger-Schützenfest. In 1984 Neuss celebrated 2000 years since its foundation. It therefore holds the title of "Germany's oldest city" alongside the city of Trier.

Neuss was founded by the Romans in 16 BC as a military fortification (castrum) with the current city to the north of the castrum, at the confluence of the rivers Rhine and Erft, with the name of Novaesium.

Legio XVI Gallica ("Gallic 16th Legion") of the Roman army was stationed here in 43-70 AD. It was disbanded after surrendering during the Batavian rebellion (AD 70).

Later a civil settlement was founded in the area of today's centre of the town during the 1st century AD. Novaesium, together with Trier (Augusta Treverorum), is one of the three oldest Roman settlements in Germany.

Neuss grew during the Middle Ages because of its prime location on several routes, by the crossing of the great Rhine valley, and with its harbour and ferry. During the 10th century, the remains of the martyr and tribune Saint Quirinus, not to be confused with the Roman god Quirinus, had been relocated to Neuss. This resulted in pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Quirinus even from countries beyond the borders of the Holy Roman Empire. Neuss was first documented as a town in 1138.


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