Ensisheim: Meteorites and postage stamps at the Regency Museum

The Ensisheim meteorite exhibition and fair is the largest in the world dedicated solely to stones of extraterrestrial origin. It is the annual gathering of meteorite hunters and collectors from around the world, commemorating the meteorite that fell near the town on November 7, 1492, a few weeks after Christopher Columbus's discovery of what he believed to be the Indies, but which was in fact present-day San Salvador, in the Bahamas.

This Ensisheim meteorite is the oldest known meteorite whose fall has been observed. On the morning of November 7, 1492, between the eleventh and twelfth hour according to contemporary writings, in the Ensisheim area, a terrifying clap of thunder was heard, followed by a prolonged noise, more or less resembling that produced by thousands of distant rifle shots.

The echo of this great thunderclap was heard as far away as central Switzerland, Lorraine, and Burgundy. A 127-kg meteorite had just crashed near the city. Entering the Earth's atmosphere at high speed, it left behind a bright luminous trail before crashing into a wheat field on the road to Battenheim.

Dating back to the time of the formation of the solar system (4.7 billion years), it is the oldest meteorite collected and preserved in the Western world. Its fall was witnessed by a young boy, who then led people to the spot marked by a crater two meters in diameter and one meter deep.

All these curious people took fragments of this meteorite as a lucky charm. The bailiff stopped this looting. Subsequently, the stone was chained in the choir of the church, where it remained until the French Revolution. In 1793, it was exhibited at the National Library of Colmar. Many samples had been taken: specimens to be analyzed, but above all gifts for important visitors. The most famous visitor is undoubtedly the American astronaut Charles Duke who carried out several Apollo missions , including Apollo 16 in 1972, and who came to Ensisheim in May 1974, thanks to the Krust brothers.

The exhibition-stock market, which is being held at the Regency Palace and on the Church Square, will be open to the public on Saturday 21st from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Sunday 22nd from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday will be reserved for exhibitors. Food will be available on site every day at noon under the pagodas, as well as on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Meteorite Fair and Exhibition, Saturday, June 21 and Sunday, June 22, at the Palais de la Régence and on the Church Square in Ensisheim. Free admission. Information at 03 89 83 32 25.