MONCHENGLADBACH

formerly Mnchen-Gladbach city, North Rhine-Westphalia Land (state), western Germany, west of Dsseldorf. It developed around a Benedictine monastery (founded in 972, suppressed in 1802, whence the name Mnchengladbach [monks' Gladbach]), and was chartered in 1336. For a brief period (192933) it united with Rheydt (immediately south) and Odenkirchen to form Gladbach-Rheydt. In 1975 Rheydt was incorporated into Mnchengladbach. Historic buildings include the 13th-century Romanesque cathedral with an early Gothic choir (attributed to Gerhard von Riehl of Cologne) and a 10th-century crypt; the Baroque town hall (1663; formerly the Benedictine abbey); the Romanesque parish church in the Rheindahlen district; and a 12th-century convent church in the Neuwerk quarter. Educational institutions include the Franciscan Duns Scotus Academy (philosophy and theology), colleges of textile engineering and agriculture, and a school of economics. Mnchengladbach is known for its choral societies. A noted textile centre, it is the site of the German Research Institute for the textile industry, and its municipal museum houses a notable collection of Coptic textiles. Its iron, machinery (especially textile machinery), and paper industries also are important. Other products include chemicals, leather, and petroleum. It is a road, rail, and air centre and has numerous parks, a botanical garden, and several sports arenas. The city is the headquarters for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces in north central Europe. Pop. (1989 est.) 252,910.