Hungarian Parliament Building

The idea of constructing a parliament building in Pest emerged in 1843. However, the Hungarian Revolution and subsequent repression of the Hungarian people delayed these plans. It was only 30 years later, after Buda and Pest merged into a single city, that the decision to build the Hungarian Parliament was made. Hungarian architect Imre Steindl, renowned for his love of Neo-Gothic style, won the design competition. He planned the building to be visually striking from all angles. Construction began on the eastern bank of the Danube in 1885 and continued for 19 years. In 1896, during the celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the Magyar tribes' conquest of Hungary, the Dome Hall was ceremoniously opened. Only local materials were used in construction, and the interior features luxurious decorations, including more than 20 kg of gold and about 500,000 precious stones.

The palace measures 268 meters in length and 123 meters in width, with a height of 96 meters including the spire. The parliament has nearly 700 rooms and 10 courtyards, surrounded by 88 columns. The strict Neo-Gothic style of the building is interwoven with the grand and noble elements of Parisian Beaux-Arts. Pointed spires and majestic towers give the palace a monumental appearance, while the facade's decor softens the overall impression, creating a sense of elegant luxury. At the center of the building is the Dome Hall, with a dome height of 27 meters, flanked by wings housing the parliamentary meeting rooms. The facade of the palace features 90 figures of national heroes, and the building has 27 entrances. The main entrance is known as the "Lion's Gate".

The palace looks fantastical at night when bright illumination transforms the building into a fairy-tale structure.

The interior of the Hungarian Parliament is impressively luxurious and beautiful. The main hall features rich decor, luxurious staircases, and numerous statues, with a red carpet that stretches three kilometers. All the halls are decorated with colorful stained glass, mosaic panels, and exquisite gilding.

The Dome Hall houses the main relic of the Hungarian people — the Crown of Saint Stephen, alongside symbols of state power like the scepter and orb, and a unique composition completed by a sword. Nearby are statues of 16 rulers of the country.

The conference and meeting hall is notable for its wooden seating arranged in a horseshoe shape, with gold-plated elements and panels made of Slavic oak. The Deputies' Hall and the Hunting Hall feature stunning frescoes and canvases by famous Hungarian painters.

In creating the parliament project, the architect took London's Westminster Palace as a model.

Architect Imre Steindl died in 1902 and never saw the building completed.

There is a small museum within the parliament building that tells the story of its construction. Here, visitors can see an amazingly accurate model of the structure, built at a scale of 1:100. Six people worked on this model, which consists of 14,000 parts, over six months.