Hungarian Parliament Building
Steindl's Gothic Revival seat of the National Assembly on the Danube, seen on 45-minute guided tours.
The Hungarian Parliament Building was begun in 1885 to designs by Imre Steindl, who won the competition held after the union of Buda, Pest and Obuda. Work continued until 1902, with a partial inauguration during the millennium celebrations of 1896. The Gothic Revival exterior, influenced by the Palace of Westminster, is arranged symmetrically about a central dome that rises to 96 metres, a height matched by St Stephen's Basilica and referring to the traditional date of the Hungarian conquest in 896.
The building measures roughly 268 by 123 metres and contains hundreds of rooms, ten courtyards and about 29 staircases. Inside are the grand staircase with ceiling paintings by Karoly Lotz, the sixteen-sided domed hall ringed by statues of rulers, and the former Upper House chamber. The Holy Crown of Hungary, the sceptre, orb and coronation sword have been kept in the domed hall since 2000. Guided tours in several languages start from the Visitor Centre beneath Kossuth Square; the lower chamber is not shown when the House is sitting.
Highlights
- Holy Crown of Hungary and coronation regalia in the domed hall
- Grand staircase with ceiling paintings by Karoly Lotz
- Central dome 96 metres high above the Danube embankment
- Former Upper House chamber, used for conferences
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