Palace of the Parliament
Vast 1980s civic palace on Spirii Hill, open for guided tours of its marble halls and terrace.
The Palace of the Parliament stands on Spirii Hill in central Bucharest, on ground cleared of a historic quarter during the 1980s. Commissioned by Nicolae Ceausescu and known during construction as the House of the Republic, it was designed by a team led by Anca Petrescu, then in her late twenties. Building work began in 1984 and continued after the 1989 revolution, with many interiors finished during the 1990s. By floor area it remains among the largest administrative buildings in the world.
The palace now houses the Chamber of Deputies, the Senate, the National Museum of Contemporary Art and an international conference centre. Guided routes take visitors through the Union Hall, the Human Rights Hall and the Nicolae Balcescu Hall, ending on a terrace above Unirii Boulevard. Marble, oak, crystal and hand-woven carpets were sourced almost entirely within Romania. Access is by timed guided tour only, and visitors check in at the information desk in the Constantin Brancusi Exhibition Hall.
Highlights
- Guided routes through the Union Hall and Human Rights Hall
- Terrace balcony overlooking Unirii Boulevard
- Crystal chandeliers and marble quarried within Romania
- Also houses the National Museum of Contemporary Art
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