Usually people nod knowingly when I tell them the name of my hometown. “That’s where the cheese comes from, isn’t it,” they are quick to say. Well, not really. The cheese originated in an Alsatian city (in neighboring France) of the same name. It’s actually a pretty common name, since it was derived from the Latin word for monastery, monasterium. There are, in fact, a couple of monasteries in my hometown, as it was founded in the 8th century as a Carolingian episcopal see.

The Romanesque — early Gothic St. Paul Cathedral (built between 1225 and 1265) — still dominates the downtown area. Here, you stumble across history at every corner: In the Middle Ages this was an important member of the economic and defensive confederation Hanseatic League. The radical reformist Anabaptist movement took over the city in 1534. A peace treaty signed in the Gothic town hall ended the terrible Thirty Years War in 1648. The city was conquered during the Napoleonic wars in 1802, and mostly destroyed during World War II by Allied air raids.

My mother still recalls the time when the ruins of the cathedral were the largest structure that was left standing and visible from miles away, as most other buildings had been flattened. Today, the church has been beautifully reconstructed, along with the rest of the historic city center, with its gabled Renaissance patrician houses lining the Prinzipalmarkt pedestrian street.

Every Wednesday and Saturday morning, people flock to the colorful farmers market at the cobblestone square in front of the monumental church. Most don’t immediately return home after shopping, but crowd the many sidewalk cafés. History aside, this is a very young and lively regional center, as about every fifth inhabitant of this city of 270,000 is enrolled at the university. The town is also home to a dozen fine museums, including one devoted to Pablo Picasso.

Due to its proximity to the Netherlands (and probably due to the outrageous gas prices, as well) most choose a bicycle as their means of transportation. Every person, so goes the saying, owns at least two. There is even a bicycle parking garage in front of the central train station.

The city recently won an international LivCom Award for being the most liveable community of its size. If the weather had only been nicer here ... the town has an above-average number of rainy days ... I really should not have moved away.

Where am I?

Send your answer to goworld@goworldpublishing.com. All readers correctly identifying this city and country will be entered in a drawing to receive a recently published travel book.

Manchester, England

Answer to the July 2006 “Where in the World” Contest

Last month’s mystery destination was Manchester, England. Our photo showed Urbis, the city's museum of urban life.

Thanks to all who wrote in their guesses. This month’s winner is Jeff from La Grange, Kentucky. Congratulations Jeff!