Charlemagne Prize facts for kids

At the award ceremony in 2000 with Bill Clinton. In the background, other prize winners, including Juan Carlos I, Václav Havel and Simone Veil.

The Charlemagne Prize (German: Karlspreis) is a famous prize awarded each year. The prize has been awarded since 1950 by the German city of Aachen. It is awarded to persons who have done outstanding work towards the unification of Europe. The award is named after Charlemagne, emperor of the Frankish Empire, and founder of what became the Holy Roman Empire. Charlemagne lived and was buried in Aachen.

Images for kids

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  The mediaeval city seal of Aachen on which the design of the prize medal is based

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  The city hall of Aachen

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  After awarding the Charlemagne Prize 2015 to Martin Schulz, the dignitaries met on stage at Aachen Katschhof [de]. From left to right can be seen: Bernd Büttgens (official spokesman of the city of Aachen), Armin Laschet (Parliamentary group leader of the CDU in North Rhine-Westphalia), François Hollande (President of France), Martin Schulz (President of the European Parliament), Joachim Gauck (President of Germany), Felipe VI (King of Spain), Petro Poroshenko (President of Ukraine), Sauli Niinistö (President of Finland), Simonetta Sommaruga (President of Switzerland), Hannelore Kraft (Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia), Jürgen Linden (Speaker of the board of directors of the Charlemagne Prize of the city of Aachen).

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  Paul-Henri Spaak in the 1957 ceremony

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  Angela Merkel with the 2008 prize medal around her neck

See also

In Spanish: Premio Carlomagno para niños