Hungarian Parliament Building

The Parliament Building, the third-largest in the world, has emerged as one of Budapest's most attractive architectural structures. In 1886, the Neo-Gothic structure was dedicated to celebrating the nation's one-thousandth birthday. The enormous building has up to 691 rooms.

THINGS TO DO AT HUNGARIAN PARLIAMENT BUILDING:

• Explore the interior of the third-largest parliament building in the world, the Hungarian Parliament:

The structure has a spooky interior and is considered one of the best examples of early Gothic Revival architecture. The requirement that only Hungarian raw materials could be used for the construction of the Hungarian Parliament and that it ought to involve Hungarian craftsmen and manufacturers—all the way down to the flora native to the Carpathian Basin used as decoration—was a crucial requirement for the construction project.'Regarding the house's size and design, the Baroque floor plan, Gothic-inspired front, and Renaissance-inspired ceiling all combine to create a cohesive whole

The building's floor is 18,000 square meters, and there are about 162 statues inside, in addition to the 90 stone statues that grace the exterior. There are 27 gates in total, a nearly 3-kilometer-long crimson carpet inside, and the Hungarian Parliament is surrounded by 365 towers of varied sizes, one for each day of the year.

• The House of Parliament's design is not by accident either, as every single component was built according to a thorough plan, conveying significant political and historical meanings:

The towering cupola in the center is a symbol of the legislature's unity and serves as the location of combined sessions of the lower and upper houses. Both the upper and lower residences are exact replicas of one another. The equality between two houses of Parliament is reflected in this. A big, imposing Neo-Renaissance dome in the center symbolizes the unity that joining the two sides of the legislature will bring about.

• Learn about the Parliament's history as you stroll around its enormous rooms: The Budapest Parliament was created in the 19th century to emphasize the independence the Hungarians gained from Austria-Hungary at a time when the Magyar was already giving birth to Cisleithania. The hall was split into two bipartisan zones on the north and south sides of the dome until 1944. The Hungarian National Assembly now meets in a single room due to the abandonment of this system.
• Get a glimpse of the most sacred objects in Hungarian history via equally stunning interiors:

1. The XVII City Side Staircase: This gold-plated hallway leads to the majestic main floor and is decorated with stunning murals, statues, and colorful glass windows.

2. The Peers' Chamber: The former Chamber of Peers is now a conference location. The Slavonian oak panels used to embellish the hall, which has a multilevel gallery and outstanding acoustics, are heavily trimmed in gold.The painted coats of arms of the royal families of Hungary are shown on the main wall.

3. The Chamber of Peers' Lounge: The Lounge is decorated with monuments honoring previous Hungarian ethnic groups and professions and has Europe's largest hand-knotted carpet.The latter was created in the Zsolnay porcelain factory in Pécs, a significant figure in the history of the Hungarian industry and winner of numerous awards at international exhibitions.

4. Domes Hall: Since 2000, the Dome Hall has been a secure location where the Hungarian Holy Crown and the Coronation Insignia are preserved. Here, statues of Hungarian kings and queens are exhibited beneath golden canopies.

5. Grand Staircase: The House of Parliament tour's final stop is filled with opulent attractions.Admire the artistic creations of Károly Lotz, a key character in Hungarian wall and portrait painting, on the ceiling and the dazzlingly intricate glass windows created by mosaic and glass artist Miksa Róth on either side of the hall. And the eight granite columns are situated there as well.

• The Parliamentary Library will be your final stop:

Politicians may utilize a private library, but this library is accessible to the general public and still has over 500,000 books and volumes.

Here, books dating back to 1580 are kept on shelves that extend to the roof. The library is a tranquil place to complete the tour and offers a wonderful view of the Danube from the inside.

• From across the Danube river is the greatest location to observe the Parliament building:

You can see the entire edifice from a vantage point like Batthyány Square. You can appreciate the harmony and strength such a commanding edifice can generate from a distance. You may examine the building's symmetrical design from the other side of the Danube.