Self-guided podcast tour Mönchengladbach: 1970s football history

How a struggling textile town forged an unbreakable bond with its football team

A self-guided podcast tour of Mönchengladbach traces the 1970s rise of the Fohlen: a revolutionary young team that transformed a working-class city's identity. You follow an app-guided route of 7.1 km across four stops, listening to expert and local narration that connects the championship celebrations, the commercial evolution of the team's nickname, grassroots youth work, and the preserved terrace landscape of the demolished Bökelberg stadium. Available in English and German. Minimum age 13.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Mönchengladbach football heritage

• Visit historic city center
• See modern 'Fohlen' sales room
• Explore grassroots youth organization
• View Bökelberg stadium terraces

The experience

The tour starts in the historic city center where championship celebrations in the 1970s cemented the bond between team and town, then moves through a modern sales room showing how the nickname 'Fohlen' shifted from journalistic metaphor to a permanent commercial brand. The route takes you to a grassroots organization in the Eicken district that still maintains the working-class identity through youth programs, and ends at the terrace landscape of the demolished Bökelberg stadium: a physical monument to that era. The app provides point-to-point navigation between each stop and lets you pause to explore the surroundings at your own pace.

The audio content is structured as a podcast, with experts and locals telling the story rather than reading facts. You get verified historical information woven into a narrative that connects the team's offensive style of play to the city's identity, and the app includes an interactive guide so you can ask questions about what you're seeing. The whole route covers 7.1 km and takes around 2.7 hours, though you control the speed. You can linger at any stop or move through more quickly depending on your interest.

What’s included

• Podcast-style audio narration by experts and locals in English or German.
• interactive app guide with questions about history and surroundings.
• verified historical facts woven into the story.
• point-to-point navigation between all four stops.
• access to all tour locations.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Under 13: can't be booked

Audio guideEnglish and German

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Red Thread

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to explore at your own pace on foot through the city center: the app guides you across 7.1 km with no navigation needed, and you can start directly from public transport stops.

Top questions

How do I start the tour and navigate between the four stops?

The tour uses an app-based navigation system that guides you point-to-point between each of the four locations across Mönchengladbach. You download the app, start at the historic city center, and follow the directions to each subsequent stop. The app also provides the audio content and interactive features as you go.

What was the Fohlen and why does it matter to Mönchengladbach?

The Fohlen were the young players of Borussia Mönchengladbach in the 1970s, a team known for their wild, revolutionary offensive style that won championships and transformed the city's identity. The tour traces how this struggling textile town's football success created an unbreakable civic bond that still runs through the streets and shops today.

Can I do this tour on my own, or do I need a guide?

This is a self-guided tour. You navigate independently using the app and listen to the podcast-style audio narration from experts and locals. There is no human guide accompanying you, so you move at your own pace and can pause or revisit any stop as long as you want.

What's included in the tour, and do I need to pay for entry to any of the stops?

The tour includes the podcast audio content, the interactive app guide, point-to-point navigation, and access to all four stops. Entry to the sites themselves is included. You're walking through public spaces and preserved areas rather than ticketed attractions.

Is there public transport near the starting point, or do I need a car?

Public transportation options are available nearby the starting point in the city center, so you can reach the tour without a car. The route itself is walkable across the 7.1 km, and the app handles all navigation once you begin.