Louise Weiss: a committed European

This exhibition tells the story of a woman who pioneered the European idea. Louise Weiss had an extraordinary life: a campaigner, journalist, filmmaker, writer and Parliamentarian, she was a witness to several tumultuous changes in twentieth-century Europe. Among these was the first elections by universal suffrage to the European Parliament after which Weiss would take her seat as the oldest Parliamentarian, chair the constituent session and deliver the first inaugural address. Today, a European Parliament building in Strasbourg bears her name. 

Exploring the life of Louise Weiss reveals not only a remarkable individual who would be influential in areas from women’s rights to peace negotiations, but a life that is testament to the radically changing Europe she was born to in 1893: a continent in flux between war, peace and rebuilding. It was to the betterment of this Europe that Louise Weiss would dedicate her life and indeed, she would have a far-reaching impact in her lifetime and beyond.  

This exhibition is organised by the Archives Unit and the Directorate of Libraries and Knowledge Instruments of the European Parliament with the support of the Louise Weiss Museum in Saverne. It is produced online by the Europeana Foundation and the European Parliament.