Monchengladbach may be known by Brits for four reasons:

1) It has a football team which was pretty good in the 70s and had a very long name

2) It is the basis to the most popular?joke in football, which I will tell one final time. Who is the most unpopular person in the crowd at Borussia Monchengladbach? The one who shouts 'give us a B'.

3) It's home to the biggest British army base in Germany (for the time being anyway)

4) er...nope, there's no fourth.

I went to Monchengladbach on a miserable March Saturday and can confirm that yes, there's not much more to shout about. There are no major sights or special touristy reasons to visit this corner of Germany, close to the Dutch border.

 

However, despite all this, I liked the place. It's pretty easy to navigate,  from the moment you leave the main train station. In front of you is the the bus station. Off to the left is the part pedestrianised shopping area with all the big name stores.

Head up the hill as the road bears right and after 20 minutes you'll reach the Alter Markt,, the city's one slightly old and picturesque quarter - an old market square with a touch of charm.

It's here, around and down a few cobbled hilly alleys, where you'll find Moncengladbach's lively bar and club scene. Every other premises (or more) is offering food or drink, they're packed in Newcastle Bigg Market style and whilst I was there largely in daytime I've no doubt it buzzes at night.

 

There's certainly a buzz to the whole city and it's clear that the football team is the big highlight of it all, which is why that 40,000 of this population of quarter of a million turn out to support them every other week. It's not touristy, it's a working city but it's lively and worth a visit and possibly a night.

 

 

 

It's busier at night: Monchengladbach's bar district at the Alter Markt.