Orsoy

Orsoy is a district of the Lower Rhine town of Rheinberg on the Rhine. The word Orsoy, pronounced Oschau means "horse pasture" (Rossaue). Orsoy itself was in the Middle Ages a powerful fortified town with high walls and four gates. Although much of the fortifications were destroyed in the Second World War, a gate tower and part of the moat remain today giving some indication of the scale of the fortifications. Although the remaining gate was refurbished in 1937.

Teutons supplanted the Celtic inhabitants around Orsoy in 750BC and Ceesar invaded the area establishing Roman Rule in the 1st century BC. Orsoy was first founded as a Roman Villa on what was the frontier of the empire. By the 4th century a Roman Road and ferry crossing had been established at Orsoy.

In 401AD the Romans withdraw from the area in the face of the Visigoths and the Franks followed close behind. In 1938 archaeologists uncovered 9 royal tombs from 500-630AD showing strong Scandinavian cultural input.

The town became Frankish and was Christianised about 700 AD.

The earliest mention of the town is in a charter for nearby Hamborn Abbey in 1139.

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