Erstein. 140 years and a gala for the Gymnastics Society

"A handful of young people from Erstein decided, on August 20, 1885, to create the Erstein Gymnastics Society (SGE). That year, Bismarck reigned over much of Europe, Johan Strauss was composing The Gypsy Baron in Vienna. In France, Louis Pasteur had discovered the rabies vaccine, and Victor Hugo had just died," confides Jacques Rehberger, honorary president of the SGE, head of the gym en forme group, with his wife Georgette.

In 1888, the first gymnastics festival was organized. It was a resounding success. The profits from this day were used to purchase equipment. The SGE then took off under the presidency of Otto de Meyenburg, the director of the Filature, from 1887.

"Another important moment was June 23, 1907," continues Jacques Rehberger, "the date of the second major departmental competition, which took place on the site of the current Hôtel Le Brochet. It was on this day that the...

...to read more, join our community of subscribers

and access all of our articles on the website and mobile app

from €1 for the first month, with no fixed term commitment

{'skus': ['alsswgpremium16']}