Gerstheim
| Gerstheim | ||
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| region | Grand Est | |
| Department | Bas-Rhin | |
| Arrondissement | Sélestat-Erstein | |
| Canton | First stone | |
| Community association | Canton d'Erstein | |
| Coordinates | 48 ° 23 ' N , 7 ° 42' E | |
| height | 149-157 m | |
| surface | 16.42 km 2 | |
| Residents | 3,448 (January 1, 2017) | |
| Population density | 210 inhabitants / km 2 | |
| Post Code | 67150 | |
| INSEE code | 67154 | |
| Website | www.gerstheim.fr | |
Gerstheim is a French commune with 3448 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2017) in the Bas-Rhin department in the Grand Est region (until 2015 Alsace ).
history
Gerstheim was first mentioned in a document as Gerbodesheim in 1066. At that time most of the area belonged to the von Bock and von Berstett families . The von Geroldseck family was also known . Walter von Schwanau became known for his blockade of the waterways for traders from his Schwanau moated castle and for his robberies. The castle was razed in 1333 .
From 1871 until the end of the First World War , Gerstheim belonged to the German Empire as part of the realm of Alsace-Lorraine and was assigned to the Erstein district in the Lower Alsace district .
religion
Gerstheim had a not inconsiderable proportion of the Jewish population. The first synagogue was built in 1824 in the area of today's cemetery. In 1874 a follow-up building was erected elsewhere, on Rue du Rhin. It was canceled in 1966.
The members of the two Christian denominations shared a church building until the decision to build a second church was made in 1865.
Attractions
The old city center with the Lachter , also called Muhlbach, which once powered the Gerstheim mill and provided the town with electricity, is a tourist attraction and is sometimes referred to as Little Venice.
In the Protestant church there is an organ made by the Wetzel brothers from around 1870. In 1917 part of the instrument was requisitioned by the German troops. In 1926 the organ was completed again by Edmond Alexandre Roethinger. Presumably he also expanded it back then. Another restoration took place in 1972.
The fountain in front of the ballroom was awarded a prize in 2000.
An imposing building from the 18th century, which once belonged to the mayor Edouard Lauffenburger, is now owned by the city.
The Catholic Church, which was to be built according to the resolution of 1865, was built at the personal sacrifice of the citizens, because for lack of money the municipality had initially decided to build the tower and nave one after the other. After the private collection did not lead to the desired result on the initiative of Pastor Huss, the company finally turned to Emperor Napoleon III. In 1869 it was still possible to decide to build the entire church. For the equipment , the community was again dependent on private donations. On the night of November 24th to 25th, 2011, the church was badly damaged by fire. Until the restoration in 2014, the Catholic community again used the Evangelical Church of Saint-Guillaume for worship, which was available to both Christian denominations as a so-called simultaneous church until 1869 .
Remains of the Maginot Line and casemates from the time of World War II are also on the municipal area.
There is also a Rhine lock near Gerstheim .
- Churches in Gerstheim
Saint-Guillaume Protestant Church 
Saint Denis Catholic Church
Border crossing
In Gerstheim you could once cross the German-French border. An old bridgehead is still there; In addition, after the Second World War, a makeshift bridge was built over the Schollengiesen , which was in operation until 1967. Today one is considering redesigning the Rhine island and the banks of the Rhine into a natural world of adventure.
Economy and Infrastructure
From around 1900 many residents found employment in the tobacco and sugar industries; there are now numerous other job opportunities. There is a run-of-river power plant on the Rhine in the municipality (→ Gerstheim power plant ).
literature
- Le Patrimoine des Communes du Bas-Rhin . Flohic Editions, Volume 1, Charenton-le-Pont 1999, ISBN 2-84234-055-8 , pp. 362-363.
