Mönchengladbach is an industrial city with a long history and numerous interesting museums. There is also the Old Town with the building of the medieval abbey and the market square surrounded by tenement houses.
The city was founded in the 10th century and was closely related to the nearby Cologne. Initially, it belonged to the local bishops. Destroyed many times in numerous wars, it developed into an industrial center in the 19th century. For this reason, it was badly damaged by air raids during World War II.
The rebuilt center of Mönchengladbach has kept its medieval layout. Its most important building is the abbey, the origins of which date back to the 10th century. The present, gothic church is largely rebuilt from war damage. The vicinity of the market square is of a similar nature. It is also the part of the city where you can easily find restaurants, bars and eateries.
The most important attractions in Mönchengladbach are the local museums. The art museum is located in Reydt Castle. The historic rooms are mostly the works of the masters of the 17th and 18th centuries. The Abteiberg Museum, in turn, has a collection of contemporary art.
A characteristic building of Mönchengladbach is the neo-gothic water tower. Inside, there is now an archaeological museum presenting Neolithic monuments found in the area. On the other hand, a good place for a walk is the Bunter garden, within which there is a botanical garden and an arboretum.
