Rumor has it that Paris keeps a sporting secret. It is hidden behind an unassuming facade. This secret is the Allée du Gymnase. More precisely, the Gymnase Trévise holds this secret. It is the oldest basketball court in the world.
Imagine stepping into the Allée du Gymnase. It is located at 14 rue de Trévise in Paris’s 9th arrondissement. Here, on December 27, 1893, the first European basketball game took place. This was just two years after James Naismith invented the sport in the United States.
Naismith was a Canadian professor at a YMCA in Springfield. He sought a way to keep his students active during winter. He divided ten players into two teams. Then he placed peach baskets at each end of a covered court. Naismith just wanted to fill the months between baseball and American football season. He initially called it “Naismith ball”.
Two years later, members of the French YMCA entered the Gymnase Trévise. American expats discovered a vast complex dedicated to the YMCA. It spanned 4,500 square meters. It included a pool, bowling alley, and a multi-sport hall. The hall mimicked the Springfield court. It even boasted locker rooms and showers. This was a rarity in the late 19th century.
During that inaugural game, players dribbled a leather ball. They had to navigate around two pillars. These pillars supported a ceiling over six meters high. History books do not tell much about this game. We do not know the teams, players, or score. However, a few months later, the first basketball club was founded here. It was named BBC Trévise in October 1894.
The Allée du Gymnase remains nearly unchanged since 1893. Architect Emile Bénard, a student of Gustave Eiffel, designed it. The herringbone floor is original. The walls, railings, stairs, and running track are all from that time. Even the two odd pillars still stand. Only the baskets have been replaced in the 1990s.
Today, the Allée du Gymnase is a classified historical monument. Access is usually restricted. You might hurt your ankles on the warped floor. However, you can rent the space. Singer Eddy de Pretto filmed a music video here. The public can also visit during Heritage Days. Mostly, the place guards its secret.
Paris holds the title of housing the world’s oldest basketball court. It has held this title since the original court in Springfield burned down. This unique piece of sporting history continues to inspire. It silently stands as a testament to basketball’s global legacy. The Allée du Gymnase is more than just a location. It is a living museum of sports history. Its walls echo with the footsteps of pioneers. It inspires future generations of athletes.