Mönchengladbach is located west of the Rhine, halfway between Düsseldorf and the Dutch border. The city is bursting with green spaces, like the Bunter Garten, which cuts Gladbach in two. Some of these parks are medieval properties, with Baroque and Renaissance palaces like Schloss Rheydt and Schloss Wickrath at their heart. Alter Markt the centre of daily life in the city, and is fringed by busy pavement cafes and taken over by a food market on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings. At local restaurants, you can taste dozens of pork dishes, from a classical roast and thick soups to broiled medallions and pates. One of the regional specialties is smoked pork that you can taste not only at local restaurants, but also in food markets. Try also one one the breweries, don’t miss out the high quality German beers! Two more highlights are of course the wellknown football team of the city and the carneval. Mönchengladbach has a long football tradition. Its home club, Borussia Mönchengladbach, is one of the country's most well-known, best-supported, and successful teams. And the carneval, one of the most popular feasts of the Germans: There’s nowhere more fun or crazier to be on Shrove Tuesday Mönchengladbach as it is invaded by the largest parade in the country!