Awarding of the Freiherr-vom-Stein plaque to municipalities / cities

The Freiherr-vom-Stein plaque can be awarded once to all Hessian municipalities and towns that can look back on 750 or more years of existence and celebrate the historic event in a festive setting.

Hessian Ministry of the Interior, for Security and Homeland Security

• The application for the award of the Freiherr-vom-Stein plaque.
• Documentary evidence of the anniversary age is provided by submitting a current statement from the Hessian State Archives responsible for the municipality. The expert opinion of the historical archives should be obtained at an early stage, before the anniversary to be celebrated is scheduled.
• Celebration program

• The municipality must look back on 750 or more years of existence and celebrate the historic event in a festive setting.
• Shorter periods (600 years) are also considered sufficient for anniversaries of the granting of town rights if the town has already existed for at least 750 years.
• The plaque is awarded if the anniversary number is divisible by 25.

The Freiherr-vom Stein plaque is awarded upon application.
The application must be accompanied by a current statement from the Hessian State Archives with regional responsibility for the municipality.

The application must be submitted at least two months before the anniversary date (ceremony) together with documentary evidence of the anniversary age and the celebration program.
Municipalities that intend to submit an application must notify the Hessian Ministry of the Interior, Security and Homeland Security directly in advance by November 30 of the previous year, stating the planned date of the anniversary celebrations.

4-6 weeks.

There are no fees.

If the Freiherr-vom-Stein plaque can no longer be awarded to a municipality for a district anniversary, the Freiherr-vom-Stein certificate of honor can be awarded in its place.